Swift - Year 4
Hi, I am Mrs Brown and I teach Year 4 Swift class. I have been a teacher for 7 years and am excited to be back in KS2.
I lead Maths across the school and love seeing all the learning the children are doing in maths and the progress they make.
Outside of school I love listening to music and going to the theatre and getting to eat my husband's delicious cooking.
Other staff working in our class are:
Miss Porter - Class TA
Our weekly timetable:
Important dates for the diary this term for Swift Class
Wednesday 3rd September - Hook afternoon for our topic
Thursday 25th September – Trip to St Augustine’s Abbey
Tuesday 7th October – Individual Photos
Welcome to Year 4!
We’re so excited to begin an exciting new year of learning in Year 4! This term, we have lots of fantastic topics to explore across the curriculum, and we can’t wait to get started.
Maths
This term in Maths, we’ll be developing our understanding of place value by working with numbers up to 10,000. The children will learn how to recognise the value of each digit, order and compare numbers, and round them to the nearest 10, 100, or 1,000. We’ll then move on to addition and subtraction, where we’ll practise using efficient written methods as well as mental strategies to solve increasingly complex problems. Children will also begin applying their skills to real-life contexts, developing their reasoning and problem-solving abilities. 
Please see our school calculation policy to support your children's maths learning at home.
English
In English, we’ll be diving into our new Year 4 curriculum with some exciting texts. We’ll start with The Midnight Fair, a beautiful wordless book that encourages children to develop their inference skills, describe settings in detail, and explore characters’ emotions through creative writing. Later this term, we’ll delve into the classic Anglo-Saxon myth of Beowulf, where we’ll learn to write vivid descriptions, create tension in our narratives, and explore the features of myths and legends. Alongside this, we’ll continue developing our grammar, spelling, punctuation, and comprehension skills to become confident, independent writers and readers.
History
Our History topic this term focuses on The Anglo-Saxons. We’ll investigate who the Anglo-Saxons were, why they came to Britain, and what life was like during this fascinating period. Through studying artefacts, maps, and historical sources, we’ll explore their culture, beliefs, and everyday life, as well as how their arrival shaped the Britain we know today.
Science
In Science, our topic is Animals and Their Habitats. We’ll learn how living things can be grouped in a variety of ways and explore how animals adapt to survive in different environments. Children will use classification keys to identify and sort animals, and we’ll investigate the impact of changing habitats on wildlife, helping to build our understanding of biodiversity and environmental responsibility.
Religious Education
In RE, we’ll be exploring The Creation Story from a Christian perspective. We’ll learn about the biblical account of creation, including the story of Adam and Eve, and discuss what these stories mean to believers today. Through class discussions and activities, children will also be encouraged to reflect on their own ideas about creation and the world around us.
Learning at home for Swift Class
- Reading at home daily. Read AR books, ready to quiz
- Spelling shed
- TTS Rockstars
Be ready for learning! In Swift Class, your child will need to have these items in school:
- PE kit (to be worn on PE day - Wednesday)
- Water bottle (no squash or juice)
- Small rucksack (big enough to hold lunchbox and reading books)
- Wellington boots (to leave in school when weather appropriate)
- Coat (weather appropriate)
Please don’t bring other items into school, as we do not have space to store these, and it can cause upset if things are lost or damaged.
Highlights of our learning so far this year:
Term 1
We enjoyed our hook afternoon! We made our own Anglo Saxon names and wrote them in Ruins, and created broaches.
