Need to know content of Year 4

[rdaddy]

Can anyone here help, please?

What competencies, content, scores etc should DS be engaged in?
What new activities will he be doing?
What barriers should he be breaking, across all subjects, during Year 4?

What activities could we do this summer in preparation?

Can you either share anything from your experience, or can you point to resources/info offering the above?

Thanks.

You should Google the 204 national curriculum. We're still working on that.

Maths - all times tables up to 12, formal methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division up to 4 digit numbers,

Writing - should be spelling most words accurately by end of Year 4, using apostrophes correctly, writing a range of sentence types, and writing should be interesting and suiting the purpose.

Geography, history and so on - there is no "Year 4" curriculum, so it's a bit hard to say. The curriculum is Year 3-6 combined and each school chooses how to divide it up.

In terms of preparation

• your son needs to read. Every day.
• talk about the world around you and give him the broadest life experiences your finances allow for. Museums, places of interest, walks, etc.
• talk about things going on in the world, and how they relate to other things
• practice mental calculations eg. Estimating at the shops and explain what you're doing. "I need four packs . They're £2.35 each, which is not far below £2.50. Times that by 4 makes 10, so I will have very little change from £10.

I would give him chance to rest.

Time to play, problem solve, be creative, exercise. Time for visits and fun. Time to talk and read. Time to garden or be involved in anything he is interested in.

Chance to be a child.

I didn’t say I wouldn’t. Please don’t judge - it’s not productive.

Then to support him in addition to the above, your son’s primary school should have a copy of their curriculum, showing progression for each subject/age group.

Checking that will help with his prior knowledge.

Play. Play is very important. And books. Read to him, and give him the space and opportunity to read (anything he likes-even if you think it's too easy for him!) But mostly play.

I'd say it depends on why you want to do work over the summer.

We used CGP books when we moved back to the UK and wanted to make sure there were no gaps. There are question books, study books (which tell you how to do stuff, with a handful of questions), 10min workout books. Mainly for maths and English at that age. So if you want to ensure that's covered, have a look at those or something similar.

Otherwise, the library reading challenges are good - and I think have already started. And after that I'd follow his interests to some extent - obviously if he says minecraft and roblox are his only interests you might have to ignore that! Museums, special one day events, visiting new places, cooking, craft. And talk about it, why/what/how.

Your school website should have an area headed 'curriculum' which should layout all the topics and skills taught in each year.

The school has indeed been asked explicitly for curriculum content, schedule, benchmarks/progression etc for next year. They have only really been able to say: castles.
They have supplied nothing.

Do you not have a 'parents or Key Information' section on your school website?

Ours has the plan for each term on it, this is autumn term last year for yr 4

Then, if this is not published on the school website, they are not meeting DfE expectations.

Without the information from your son’s school, there isn't a way anyone else can provide you with such specifics.

You could have a look at the National Curriculum that schools (academies can opt out) are expected to follow, but this is very broad. Teachers plan the details from it.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/425601/PRIMARY_national_curriculum.pdf

Why?

Maybe you could use the government provided KS2 Oak Academy lessons?

https://classroom.thenational.academy/subjects-by-key-stage

This is a great tip, @FatAgainItsLettuceTime . What you have is exactly what I would like to have!

But, for my school, the "curriculum" PowerPoint file contains a single Year 4 slide that simple states the annual theme, castles.

> " if this is not published on the school website, they are not meeting DfE expectations."

Interesting. Looks like you're referring perhaps to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-maintained-schools-must-publish-online#curriculum (?)

BTW, my school is in Wales, so not DfE.
I'm aware of the (new) Welsh curriculum, and what it says about Year 4 at the high level, but much is left up to local implementation - hence my interest.
I will certainly be digesting that, but will also take a close interest in the England curriculum, which may well be stronger.

Thanks for the links, inc the National Academy link!

Yes, apologies, different expectations for Wales.

What is it you want for your child? You don't need to teach him what he will learn in Year 4, because he will learn that in Year 4.

It's a shame you didn't mention Wales in the OP.

People will be able to help you if you give a reason, is he behind?

My daughter has just finished year 4 in England and it was very times tables heavy.

Reading, both for pleasure and for information, for some children these will be the same thing. Keep sharp with basic maths concepts such as multiplication/division facts,

don’t try to teach the year four curriculum, that will happen in year 4.

Encourage your child to discuss, to talk about things he has seen on the news, or read in the a newspaper, encourage curiosity about the world. Encourage him to observe, maybe by drawing or describing in words something he has seen or somewhere he has been.

Take him out and about, preferably at a pace when he can observe his surroundings and is aware of them , so include walking and cycling rather than exclusively car, bus or train.

Writing expectations- working towards

Writing expectations- at expected

Writing expectations- greater depth

Our local libraries used to do a reading challenge, do yours do that?

Failing that, you read to him and he reads to you.

As much as possible and on any and every subject.

Maths is very easy to Google Y4 maths curriculum. Must know all times tables.

Wow, @Hopeful16 , thanks - these screengrabs are great.
What is the source, please?