We will then move on to Celebrating Difference, where the children will explore similarities and differences between people, learn about accepting others and discuss how our words and actions can affect those around us. They will take part in class discussions and activities that encourage respect, empathy and positive relationships.

RE: This term the children will be learning about Islam, focusing on the key question: Does completing a pilgrimage make a person a better Muslim? The children will explore the importance of Hajj, the role of the mosque and different ways Muslims worship. They will use images, stories, discussion and comparison activities to explore why pilgrimage is important to Muslims and will be successful by explaining their ideas using appropriate religious vocabulary and evidence from their learning.

We will also be learning about Muslim prayer, focusing on the question: Does praying at regular intervals help a Muslim in their everyday lives? The children will explore the importance of daily prayer, when and how Muslims pray and how prayer can influence everyday life. Through discussion, sequencing activities and exploring examples of Muslim practice, they will develop their understanding and explain why prayer is meaningful to believers.

To support your child at home please can you:

• Talk to your child about their rights and responsibilities at home and at school.

• Encourage discussions about respecting differences, making positive choices and showing kindness to others.

• Ask your child to share what they have learnt about Islam, Hajj, mosques and Muslim prayer, encouraging them to use key vocabulary.

During the first half of the term, children will investigate life in Anglo-Saxon Britain after the Romans left. They will discover why the Anglo-Saxons travelled across the sea to Britain, where they settled and how they built new communities. The children will learn about Anglo-Saxon homes, farming, religion, kingdoms and daily life, while exploring what it was like to live during this important period of history. Using timelines, maps, artefacts, images and historical evidence, they will ask thoughtful questions, make comparisons and begin to understand how historians learn about the past.

To bring their learning to life, Year 4 will also take part in an exciting in-school Anglo-Saxon workshop, where they will have the opportunity to experience history in a hands-on and interactive way. This memorable experience will deepen their understanding of Anglo-Saxon life and help them connect with the past in a meaningful and engaging way.

At the end of the unit, children will use their knowledge and historical evidence to complete their composite task, explaining what life was really like in Anglo-Saxon Britain.

Later in the term, children will turn their attention to the Vikings, the famous seafarers and explorers from Scandinavia. They will find out why the Vikings came to Britain, how they travelled across oceans in their impressive longships and where they chose to settle. As they explore Viking raids, settlements, beliefs, traditions and everyday life, children will discover how the Vikings changed Britain and why they remain one of history's most fascinating civilisations.

Through source work, timelines, maps and comparisons between Anglo-Saxon and Viking life, pupils will develop their historical enquiry skills and gain a deeper understanding of the struggle for control of England. They will investigate key events, consider different perspectives and use evidence to support their ideas.

By the end of the term, children will bring together everything they have learned to answer the enquiry question:

“What was life like in Anglo-Saxon and Viking Britain?”

This exciting topic will encourage children to think critically, analyse evidence and develop a deeper understanding of how the past has shaped the world around us.

To support your child at home please can you:

• Talk to your child about what they have learnt and encourage them to use key historical vocabulary such as settlement, invasion, kingdom, raid and artefact.

• Explore age-appropriate books, museums, documentaries or websites about the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.

• Practise placing key events on a timeline and discussing how life in Anglo-Saxon and Viking Britain was similar to and different from life today.

During the first half of the Autumn Term, children will strengthen their understanding of place value by working with numbers up to 10,000. They will learn how to read, write, order and compare larger numbers, using practical resources, place-value charts and visual representations to bring mathematical concepts to life. As their confidence grows, they will use these skills to tackle a variety of addition and subtraction challenges, including real-life scenarios and multi-step problems that encourage them to think critically and explain their reasoning.

Later in the term, children will delve deeper into multiplication and division, discovering how known number facts can help them solve increasingly complex calculations and problems efficiently. They will also become mathematical investigators as they explore the world of measurement, learning how to calculate and compare length, perimeter and area. Through hands-on activities, practical resources and problem-solving tasks, children will develop a deeper understanding of how mathematics is used in everyday life.

Throughout the term, children will be encouraged to explain their thinking, justify their methods and explore different strategies for solving problems. By using diagrams, practical equipment and written methods, they will develop both their reasoning skills and mathematical confidence.

A key focus this year will be developing arithmetic fluency and rapid recall of multiplication facts. Children will regularly use Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) to practise and strengthen their multiplication and division knowledge in a fun, interactive and motivating way. Building strong times-table recall is particularly important in Year 4 as children prepare for the Multiplication Tables Check in June. Through regular practice, games and challenges, they will develop the speed and accuracy needed to succeed while growing in confidence as mathematicians.

By the end of the term, children will have developed a secure understanding of key mathematical concepts, improved their fluency and become more confident problem-solvers who are ready to apply their skills in a variety of exciting contexts.

To support your child at home, please can you:

• Encourage your child to practise on TTRS regularly, focusing particularly on the 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12 times tables.

• Practise reading, writing and ordering numbers up to 10,000.

• Support your child in using maths in everyday situations, such as handling money, telling the time and measuring items.

During the first part of the term, children will investigate the three states of matter and discover what makes each one unique. Through exciting practical activities and investigations, they will compare and group materials according to their properties and learn how tiny particles behave in solids, liquids and gases. Using scientific vocabulary, observations and evidence, they will begin to explain how the world around them is made up of different materials.

Later in the term, children will become 'change detectives' as they explore what happens when materials are heated or cooled. They will investigate melting chocolate, freezing water and other real-life examples of changing states. They will learn about melting, freezing, evaporation and condensation and discover how these processes work together in the Earth's water cycle, helping to create rain, clouds and rivers. Through careful observations and experiments, pupils will record their findings in tables and diagrams, take accurate temperature measurements and use evidence to draw scientific conclusions. By thinking critically and solving problems, they will gain a deeper understanding of how science helps us make sense of the world around us.

By the end of the term, children will have developed their curiosity, investigative skills and scientific knowledge, while building a greater appreciation of the everyday materials and natural processes that shape our lives.

To support your child at home, please can you:

• Identify and discuss examples of solids, liquids and gases found around the home.

• Observe changes of state in everyday life, such as ice melting, water freezing or steam condensing.

• Encourage your child to use key vocabulary such as solid, liquid, gas, particles, temperature, melting, freezing, evaporation and condensation.

  
  

Children will learn the names of a variety of school subjects, including las ciencias (Science), el arte (Art), las mates (Maths) and el español (Spanish), as well as key vocabulary for different places around school such as la biblioteca (library), el comedor (dining hall) and el patio (playground). They will revisit the days of the week and begin expressing their own opinions about school using phrases such as me gusta (I like) and no me gusta (I don't like).

Through games, songs, partner activities and class discussions, children will practise asking and answering questions such as ¿Qué asignatura te gusta? ("Which subject do you like?") and will learn to talk about their favourite subjects and explain their choices. As their confidence grows, they will begin to create longer spoken and written sentences, developing the skills needed to communicate more independently in Spanish.

Later in the term, children will explore how Christmas is celebrated across the Spanish-speaking world, discovering some of the unique traditions, customs and festivities enjoyed in countries such as Spain. They will learn the festive song “Cascabel”, using music to develop their pronunciation, listening skills and vocabulary while experiencing the joy of learning a language through song.

Throughout the unit, children will continue to build their sentence-writing skills by using opinion phrases alongside conjunctions such as y (and), pero (but) and porque (because). This will enable them to create more detailed and interesting sentences, helping them communicate their ideas with greater confidence and accuracy.

By the end of the term, children will have expanded their Spanish vocabulary, improved their conversational skills and gained a deeper understanding of both the language and the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Most importantly, they will develop the confidence to use Spanish in meaningful and enjoyable ways.

To support your child at home please could you:

• Practise the words el colegio – school, la biblioteca – library and el patio – playground.

• Ask your child to practise saying “Me gusta…” (I like…) and “No me gusta…” (I don’t like…) when talking about school subjects.

• Listen to and practise the “Cascabel” Christmas song together to help develop confidence with Spanish pronunciation.

During the first half of the term, our indoor focus will be Bridges, where children will use their bodies creatively to explore balancing, shaping and linking movements together. They will learn how to create strong and controlled poses, work with partners and develop the strength, coordination and body awareness that form the foundations of gymnastics. As their confidence grows, they will combine movements into sequences that showcase both creativity and control.

Outdoors, children will be introduced to the fast-paced game of Handball. They will learn how to pass and receive the ball accurately, move into space and work effectively as part of a team. Through exciting drills and game situations, they will begin to understand simple attacking and defending strategies while developing the key skills required for invasion games.

In the second half of the term, the indoor focus will move to Levels and Direction, where children will explore movement in new and exciting ways. They will learn to travel, balance and perform actions at different heights and in different directions, both independently and with others. By combining these skills, they will create increasingly complex gymnastic sequences, improving their control, flexibility and performance skills.

Outdoors, children will develop their sporting skills through Netball. They will practise passing, catching, footwork, marking opponents and finding space within a team. Through competitive and cooperative activities, they will learn how to apply simple tactics, communicate effectively and work together to achieve success. As their confidence grows, they will have opportunities to use their skills in game situations and experience the excitement of team competition.

Throughout the term, children will be encouraged to challenge themselves, show resilience, celebrate successes and support one another. They will learn the importance of cooperation, fair play and perseverance while developing healthy habits and a positive attitude towards physical activity.

By the end of the term, Year 4 children will have strengthened their balance, coordination, agility and teamwork skills, while growing in confidence and enjoying a wide range of engaging physical activities.

Autumn 2026

Autumn 1 – Tuesday 1st September 2026 - Friday 23rd October 2026

Term starts on (for pupils):

Tuesday 1st September 2026 (children start at 11.00am)

Term ends on (for pupils):

Friday 23rd October 2026

October Half Term Holiday:

Monday 26th October 2026 to Friday 6th November 2026

Autumn 2 – Monday 9th November 2026 - Friday 18th December 2026

Term starts on (for pupils):

Monday 9th November 2026

Term ends on (for pupils):

Friday 18th December 2026 (12.30pm)

Christmas Holiday:

Monday 21st December 2026 to Friday 1st January 2027

Spring 1 – Monday 4th January 2027 to Friday 12^th February 2027

Term starts on (for pupils):

Monday 4th January 2027 (children start at 11.00am)

Term ends on (for pupils):

Friday 12^th February 2027

February Half Term Holiday:

Monday 15th February 2027 to Friday 19th February 2027

Spring 2 – Monday 22nd February 2027 to Friday 25th March 2027

Term starts on (for pupils):

Monday 22nd February 2027

Term ends on (for pupils):

Thursday 25th March 2027 (12.30pm)

Spring Holiday:

Friday 26th March 2027 to Friday 9th April 2027

Good Friday 26th March 2027

Easter Monday 29th March 2027

Summer 1 - Monday 12th April 2027 to Friday 28th May 2027

Term starts on (for pupils):

Monday 12th April 2027 (children start at 11.00am)

Term ends on (for pupils):

Friday 28th May 2027

May Half Term Holiday: Monday 31st May 2027 to Friday 4th June 2027

Summer 2- Monday 7th June 2027 to Wednesday 21st July 2027

Term starts on (for pupils):

Monday 7th June 2027

Term ends on (for pupils):

Wednesday 21st July 2027 (12.30pm)

In the second half of the term, the class will dive into the heartwarming story The Name Jar, which explores themes of identity, friendship and belonging. The children will learn how to write effective and realistic dialogue, using inverted commas and accurate punctuation with confidence. They will also discover how dialogue can reveal a character's personality, emotions and relationships, while helping to move a story forward and keep readers engaged.

By the end of the term, children will have developed a range of exciting writing techniques and will be able to showcase their creativity through both descriptive and narrative writing.

To support your child at home, please:

• Encourage them to orally rehearse the class story map.

• Ask them to describe a familiar character using ambitious adjectives and expanded noun phrases.

• Practise writing short conversations, focusing on accurate speech punctuation and varied reporting clauses.

Music

This term, children will begin an exciting journey into the world of music as they learn to play the keyboard. During the first half of the term, they will develop their understanding of notes, rhythm and melody while learning how music is written and performed. As their confidence grows, they will work towards playing sections of Beethoven's famous masterpiece, Ode to Joy, one of the most recognisable pieces of classical music in the world.

As part of Black History Month, children will also discover the remarkable story of Florence Price, a pioneering composer who broke barriers and made history. They will listen to and explore her lively and energetic Juba Dance, learning about her significant contributions to the world of music and the lasting impact of her work.

In the second half of the term, children will continue to build their keyboard skills and develop their confidence as performers. They will also begin learning and rehearsing songs for the Christmas concert, working together to create a memorable performance for family and friends. Through singing, practising and performing as a group, they will develop their musicality, teamwork and stage confidence while experiencing the excitement of preparing for a special festive event.

Art

This term's Art unit, Power Prints: Drawing, will encourage children to think creatively and experiment with a wide range of artistic techniques. They will explore how artists use line, tone, texture and pattern to create powerful and expressive images and will be inspired by the work of a variety of artists studied throughout the unit.

Using different drawing materials and media, children will develop their observational skills, learn new techniques and build confidence in expressing their own ideas. As they progress through the unit, they will experiment, refine their work and make creative choices before culminating in a stunning mixed-media artwork that showcases all of the skills and techniques they have learned.

Design Technology

In Design Technology, children will become inventors, designers and problem-solvers as they take part in the Mindful Moments Timer: Digital World unit.

They will explore how technology can be used to improve everyday life and support wellbeing by designing a digital product with a real purpose. The children will investigate how mindfulness can help people feel calm and focused before planning and designing their own Mindful Moments Timer.

Throughout the project, they will think carefully about the needs of a user, make decisions about the appearance and functionality of their product and develop their understanding of digital systems and programming. Using their creativity and problem-solving skills, they will create and evaluate a working design, just like real product designers and engineers.

By the end of the term, children will have gained valuable experience in designing, creating, testing and improving a digital solution while developing confidence in using technology creatively and purposefully.

To support your child at home please can you:

• Encourage your child to listen to a range of music and talk about the instruments, rhythms and composers they hear.

• Provide opportunities for your child to draw from observation, experimenting with shading, texture and different types of lines.

• Talk to your child about how everyday digital products are designed for a purpose, and encourage them to think about what makes a product useful and easy to use.

At Wexham, we believe that our school and your home must form a partnership to help your child grow and develop to their fullest potential.

Please do not hesitate to get in contact with us if you have any concerns, questions or you would like any guidance on ways to support your child. 

The best way to do this is via TEAMs. All children have a login and password and have access to their class Teams page. Check this on a daily basis as we will use the class page to communicate any key information.

Your child's class teacher is available on TEAMs from 8am until 4:30pm. If you send messages after this time, they will be responded to the following day. Please also note that during the day, the teachers will be teaching and may not be able to respond. Any urgent information (e.g. about collection on the day) should go through the school office.

The parent newsletter is sent out, via email, on Mondays. Please read this every week as it often contains key dates and details that you need.

We often have physical letters that need to be sent home with the children so please make it part of your routine to check their bags at the end of the school day for any of these.

During the first half of the term, the children will read A Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly, a moving and inspiring story about Iris, a young deaf girl who feels a special connection to Blue 55, a whale whose unique song cannot be understood by other whales. Through Iris's remarkable journey of determination, kindness and courage, children will explore themes of friendship, belonging and communication. As they read, they will develop their retrieval, inference and prediction skills, while discussing characters' motivations, exploring important themes and discovering rich and ambitious vocabulary.

In the second half of the term, children will enjoy Varjak Paw by S. F. Said, a thrilling adventure about a young cat who must leave the safety of his home to venture into a mysterious and dangerous city. Along the way, Varjak learns the ancient skill known as 'The Way' and discovers inner strength, resilience and bravery. This exciting novel will encourage children to think deeply about the characters and events, while continuing to develop their comprehension skills. They will be challenged to explain their ideas using evidence from the text, making thoughtful connections and justifying their opinions.

By the end of the term, children will have strengthened their ability to understand, analyse and discuss a range of texts. Through these memorable stories, they will not only grow as readers but also gain valuable insights into perseverance, empathy, courage and finding their place in the world.

To support your child at home, please:

• Encourage them to read regularly.

• Ask questions about the characters and events.

• Encourage them to use evidence from the text when answering questions.