TIDCOMBE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Marina Way, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 4BP
Tel & Fax: 01884 252973
e-mail:
Web address:
September 2016
Dear Parents
Welcome to Year 4! This letter is to outline some of the things that will be happening throughout the year.
Last week, your child should have brought home an SOE3 form. This is to be completed and returned ASAP. The form asks a range of questions that will help us keep our records up-to-date. It also enables us to take your child to local events without the need for permission slips each time!
As some of you may be aware, Year 3 have not been able to move into their new classroom and are currently using the hall. This means that indoor PE has not started yet. However, it is likely that Year 3 will be in their classroom by the beginning of next week.
For Year 4, indoor PE will take place on Tuesday afternoon and outdoor will be Thursday afternoon. Indoor PE kit should consist of a white/burgundy t-shirt and black shorts. Wearing tracksuit bottoms can be dangerous when using equipment during gymnastics and so should not be worn indoors. Outdoor PE kit is similar, with the addition of suitable footwear (trainers), and tracksuit bottoms and jumper when the weather becomes colder.
Reading regularly is important to aid your child’s progress through the book bands. It has the added benefit of helping their writing, giving them more ideas to use in their own work and understanding of sentence structure. We will continue to recordwhether they have read at home, and rewards given to those with a high attainment. If you have time, it can also help to ask a few questions about what your child has read. I can give you some examples of good questions to ask if you would like guidance.
Your child will soon be coming home with a Guided Reading Home Learning book. These questions should be completed and handed in the day before their morning session. This will allow me to look at their answers and tailor our focus based on any identified weaknesses. A short sentence to let me know how much help was needed to answer the questions and any struggles would help too.
As well as Guided Reading, your child will bring home a piece of Maths Home Learning each week. This will usually be based around the topic we have been looking at during the week in class.I am aware that the way your child is taught Maths could be very different to how you were taught, it is for me! If your child is unsure then I am happy to help them, although please do this before the day it is due. Time spent on this should not be any longer than 30 minutes at a time. It’s better to do this than spend hours working at it and causing a fear of Maths!
At the moment catch up swimming sessions are taking place. It is yet to be decided whether or not Year 4 will be having class lessons later in the year. Once a decision has been made we will inform you.
Once again Year 4 will be going to Paignton Zoo for our residential. We will be going during8th – 11th May 2017. It is a very popular and informative time; I certainly enjoyed my first time last year! Information about the residential and payment dates will be sent home during the upcoming terms.
If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to me. However, please limit this to after school as I need to get ready for the school day during the morning!
Yours sincerely
Byron Swain
Year 4 Teacher