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Year 4 - Beech
Welcome to Year 4 Beech
Miss Simpkin
Teaching Assistant:
Mrs Irvine
Welcome back to school and to the start of Autumn 1! We hope you and your families had a wonderful summer break. This half term is always full of new beginnings, and we are looking forward to an exciting start to Year 4. Our school value for this half term is gratitude, and we will be encouraging the children to recognise and appreciate the good things in their lives, both in school and at home.
Year 4 – Parent Information
As always, there will be lots of information to share with you, so please keep an eye on SchoolsBuddy, which remains our main platform for communication.
Homework
Homework will continue to be set weekly using Atom Prime:
👉 https://atomlearning.com/prime
We will send a separate email once the homework begins. Children are encouraged to complete tasks as independently as possible, since the platform adapts questions to suit each child’s level. If you are unable to access Atom Prime, please let us know. New pupils will receive their login details shortly.
Your child also has access to TT Rockstars, a great tool for practising times tables. Please let us know if login details are needed.
Spelling information will be sent home in the coming weeks.
Reading Books
We encourage children to read for at least 30 minutes every day. Your support in helping them find time to enjoy books at home makes a big difference.
Staffing
Year 4 Maple – Mr Kemp (Class Teacher)
Year 4 Beech – Miss Simpkin (Class Teacher), with Mrs Reynolds covering every Thursday
Support Staff – Mrs Irvine will be working across both classes
Water Bottles
Children should bring a named water bottle to school each day. Bottles should be taken home each evening to be washed and refilled.
Golden T-shirt
Each week, during our Golden Assembly, two children from each class will be awarded the Golden T-shirt. This may be for exceptional behaviour, effort, work, or kindness. The T-shirt can be worn proudly for the week and should be returned, freshly washed, the following Friday.
Physical Education
Swimming – Tuesday
Games – Tuesday
Children may come to school wearing their PE kit on these days.
Key Stage 2 Gate
From Year 4 onwards, children will be collected from the Key Stage 2 gate (next to Ryebank Fields). If you would prefer your child to be collected from a sibling’s gate, please let us know via email.
Staying Connected
Please visit our school website: https://www.stjohnsrc.net/
Our class pages include useful information for the half term.
You can also keep up to date with school life through:
the weekly newsletter
our Instagram page (featuring Collective Worship, lessons, and wider school activities)
We can be contacted at info@stjohnsrc.net, or you can pass on a message to a member of staff at the gate in the morning. We are also available at the gate in the afternoon for a quick word.
Wednesday Welcome
We are delighted to invite you to a Wednesday Welcome on Wednesday 10th September 2025, 8:45–9:00 a.m.
Please come through the usual gate and accompany your child to their classroom. You’ll have the chance to see their new learning space.
Year 4 – Autumn 1 Curriculum Overview
Religion
Creation and Covenant
Maths
Place Value
Addition
Subtraction
English
Gorilla (Fantasy Narrative)
Poetry – Metaphors
History
Why did the Romans invade and settle in Britain?
Science
Animals including humans: Digestion and food
Art
Exploring still life (links to Romans)
Music
Ukulele
Computing
The Internet
Spanish
My Town
PE
Swimming
Games – Handball
PSHE & RHE
Mental and Emotional Health – What is resilience?
Rights Respecting (RR): Article 6 – Every child has the right to be alive and develop in the best possible way.
Core Values Focus
Gratitude
