Welcome to Term 1 and 2 2023 - 2024 Years 3 and 4

Dear Parents and Children, 

Welcome to Terms 1 and 2 at Borough Green Primary School.   

We are so excited to share our Term 1 and 2 plans for Year 3 and 4 with you.  We are looking forward to what is going to be another exciting year.  

The Curriculum in Term 1 

Our first Cornerstones topic this year is ‘Through the Ages’. This topic will run throughout Terms 1 and 2 and will focus on aspects of History, Science, Geography, Art and DT. Our English and Reading lessons will link to History, while Maths, RE, PE, Computing, Music, PSHE and French will be taught discretely.   

‘Through the Ages’ is an exciting history-led topic. Children will learn about British prehistory from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, including changes to people and lifestyle. ‘Through the Ages’ includes five companion projects – Animal Nutrition and the Skeletal System (Science); One Planet, Our World (Geography); Cook Well, Eat Well (Design Technology); Contrast and Complement and Prehistoric Pots (Art and Design). We will launch the topic with a Stunning Start experience on Friday 8th September. (separate e-mail sent out) 

You will shortly find Knowledge Organisers for this topic on the school website.  Please do read these and discuss them with your child both before and during the topic.  The Knowledge Organisers contain the key knowledge and vocabulary we expect children to know by the end of the topic and in school we refer to these during and after their learning to assess what children know and can retain. 

Parental involvement: reading, spelling and times tables 

We will be sending home reading records each day, along with your child’s reading book.  These are to be brought into class each day.    

Reading at home 

We request that you spend at least 15 minutes listening to your child read every day. Reading aloud is a vital skill and builds their confidence, fluency and extends their vocabulary. If you would like advice on how to support your child with reading at home, please do ask us.  We are continuing to use Accelerated Reader, which gives your child the opportunity to read books at an appropriate level. Children then complete a quiz on that book (at school or at home) before they can choose a new one from our library. Please sign your child’s reading record each time your child has read at home, for which they will be awarded one housepoint.  

Spelling 

In the reading record, you will also find a list of the words all children are expected to spell correctly by the end of Year 4.  Regular practice of small groups of words at home will help children to retain their knowledge of the key spellings and will reinforce our spelling lessons at school. 

Times tables  

At the front of the reading record, you will also find a Times Tables Rock Stars username and password for your child. This is a fantastic website that the children can use to play games and earn points which in turn, reinforces and consolidates their knowledge of the times tables. Children should use this regularly so that they continue to develop and feel secure with their times tables, to support the work we will do with them in school.  Year 4 children will be taking the statutory Multiplication Tables Check in Term 6 and it is expected that most children will know their times tables up to 12 times by this point.   

Arrival at school, equipment and Uniform 

All children in Years 3 and 4 should enter by the door from the nursery playground.  An adult will be on duty to welcome them in between 8.40 and 8.50 each day, when the register will be taken and lessons begin.  In the afternoon, Sycamore and Poplar Class will leave from the nursery playground door.  Cherry Class leaves from the middle door opposite the car park (to the left of the main entrance).   

All equipment that your child needs in Year 3 and 4 is provided by the school, which means that pencil cases are not needed in school.  Children will be allocated their own locker, so any bags must fit into their locker.  Large backpacks are not appropriate.  

Please note that children should not bring toys or fidgets to school unless prior agreement is obtained from Mr Wheatley, our Inclusion Manager.   

Uniform 

Uniform promotes a sense of belonging and equality. We expect our children to demonstrate pride in their appearance and respect for the school uniform. Please ensure your child is in correct uniform at all times. 

We expect our children to demonstrate pride in their appearance and respect for the school uniform. 

Grey tailored trousers or shorts  

Grey skirt, pinafore dress  

White shirt/polo shirt  

White short-sleeved shirt/blouse  

School bottle green round neck/V-neck sweatshirt or sweatshirt fabric cardigan  

School tie (optional)  

Black tights  

Grey socks (white socks can be worn with dresses)  

Green checked dress  

Black shoes  

Children should be well-presented and their white shirt/polo shirt must be tucked in at all times.  Children must wear sensible black shoes to school, NOT TRAINERS or BOOTS.  

Makeup and nail varnish are not permitted. Excessive hair accessories or extreme hair styles or colour are also not permitted.  No jewellery except for one, small, stud earring allowed in each ear.  Analogue watches are encouraged but SMART watches are not allowed. 

Many items are available from the school office. To order uniform please click on the link https://www.brigade.uk.com/parents/  or visit the uniform section on our website.  

The Parent and Teachers’ Association also runs an excellent second-hand uniform shop on site. 

PE kit 

This term, we have PE on Wednesday. Please ensure that your child comes into school wearing their PE kit on this day. If a child is unable to join in with the PE lessons due to injury they should still come in their full PE kit as they will contribute to the learning and assessment of skills covered.  Pupils with long hair should have their hair tied back at all times and earrings must be taken out or protected with tape during PE lessons. Teachers are not allowed to take earrings out for children so please ensure it is done before they arrive to school that morning.  

PE kit: 

Trainers 

House colour T-shirt 

White PE shorts 

Green track suit bottoms or black skins underneath the white shorts maybe worn for outdoor games in cold weather. Skins must not be worn without white shorts over the top. 

All items of uniform need to be clearly marked with your child's name 

Swimming 

We are pleased to let you know that Year 3 and 4 will be swimming in Term 1. Swimming days will be Tuesday for year 4 and Thursday for year 3, beginning in Week 2.  Your child will need their swimming kit, swimming hat, towel and goggles (if they use them) on their allocated day.  

Outdoor Learning 

We hope to have lots of opportunities for outdoor learning so please make sure your children have suitable footwear and waterproof jackets in school every day. This really is essential as we move into the winter months.  Please send a named pair of wellington boots, old trainers or boots into school with your child. These can be left at and stored in school so that they are to hand should we need them on a wet day!  

Other information and key dates 

Friday 8th September - Prehistoric Day in school  

Saturday 23rd September - Meadowfest, music festival 

Tuesday 26th September - European Day of Languages 

Friday 20th October - Last day of Term 1 

Information about healthy lunchboxes is included below. 

Many thanks from  

Miss Armstrong, Mrs Bowers, Mrs Gordon, Mrs Woodward