Year 4 update WC 18th May
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have had a very successful couple of weeks of swimming and the children have thoroughly enjoyed the experience! A huge thank you to all of our volunteers — your help and support has been greatly appreciated.
In Maths, we have started our new topic on Money. After half term, we will be moving on to Time. Please practise this at home as much as possible, including analogue and digital clocks, as well as 12-hour and 24-hour time.
Here are some simple ways you can practise time at home with your child:
Ask your child to read the time throughout the day using both analogue and digital clocks.Practise converting times between 12-hour and 24-hour formats (e.g. 3:45pm = 15:45).
Discuss real-life timings such as:
- “What time do we leave for school?”
- “How long until dinner?”
- “If football starts at 6:00pm and lasts 1 hour, what time will it finish?”
- Encourage your child to help plan the day using a timetable or daily schedule.
- Use TV guides, bus/train timetables or cooking instructions to read and work out times.
- Play quick-fire games such as:
- “Show me quarter past 4 on the clock.”
- “What is 20 minutes after 5:10?”
- “How many minutes until 7 o’clock?”
- Encourage regular practice of key vocabulary such as o’clock, half past, quarter past, quarter to, minutes past/to, AM and PM.
Little and often is best — even 5–10 minutes a day can make a big difference!
The children have also created some amazing persuasive leaflets and posters about Mexico this week. We have been so impressed with their creativity and effort — well done everyone!
Literacy Loop
Hot off the presses, Spring and Summer's Literacy Loop. Have a read here! What you can expect to find out:
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What we are up to and changes for September
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How to support your child in Literacy
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Handwriting Investigation
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World Book Day 2026
Thank you for your continued support and we hope you have a lovely, sunny and enjoyable weekend!
Kind regards,
Lucy Marshall and Erin Steninger
Year 4 Multiplication Check MTC
The children will soon be undertaking the government multiplication tables check. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/multiplication-tables-check
The test will be administered in the 2-week period between Monday 1 June and Friday 12 June. The children have been practising so hard and are ready for the test but please continue to practise at home as often as you can.
To help your child prepare for the Year 4 multiplication check in June, please use this website to practise: https://urbrainy.com/mtc. This site mimics the test accurately. Soundcheck on TTRS is also very similar. The important thing is that the children do not need to press enter after inputting their answer which gives them time to delete and correct if they make a mistake. Pressing enter immediately takes their first answer even if there is still time left.
The test is on all tables up to 12 x 12.
4M will complete the test on Friday 5th June
4S will complete the test on Monday 8th June
Please let us know if you have any questions.
PSHE - staying safe online
Here are a few resources to help to navigate the ever-changing internet and suggestions about how to keep children safe online:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/social-media/
https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/what-are-the-issues
https://www.childnet.com/help-and-advice/parents-and-carers
https://www.childnet.com/resources/parents-and-carers-resource-sheet/
And here is a link to our school policies, including our online safety policy: /docs/Policies
Free NHS Support for Parents – Helping Your Child Thrive at Home
The Merton Education Wellbeing Service (EWS) is offering parents free, 1:1 support sessions tailored to you and your child’s needs.
They can help you with:
- Supporting your child to sleep more independently and confidently
- Managing specific fears (such as animals, needles, or sickness)
- Reducing reassurance-seeking linked to worries
- Responding to anxiety or panic in the moment
- Creating calmer routines and reducing conflict at home
This trusted NHS service supports hundreds of Merton families each year. Over 90% of parents report progress towards their goals and would recommend the service.
Sessions are practical, evidence-based, and focused on giving you tools that make a real difference in everyday family life.
Interested?
Find out more and apply here: https://forms.office.com/e/9hA10GNKqk
You can also collect a paper application form from the school office.
Merton Education Wellbeing Service has 1:1 evidence-based support available for parents whose children are struggling with anxiety, fears, or low confidence.
If your child is:
• seeking lots of reassurance
• avoiding things because of anxiety
• struggling with a phobia (e.g. needles or vomiting)
• feeling worried about starting secondary school or using public transport
• dealing with perfectionism or finding it hard to ask for help
Their evidence-based programmes have already helped hundreds of Merton parents, with 95% making progress toward their goals, an NHS CAMHS early support service.
Find out more and get in touch: https://forms.office.com/e/9hA10GNKqk
Coming up over the next few weeks…
Maths- Time
Literacy- Narrative writing
Science- Animals including humans - digestion
RE- The Bible
Art - Fabric of Nature!
PSHE-Safety and the Changing Body
French - En Classe
History - 'How have children's lives changed?'
Standing information
* Snacks- Please send your child in with a healthy snack every day and please remember we are a no nuts school. This includes some types of hummus and pesto.
We have started our new spelling programme 'Ready, Steady, Spell!' Spellings for the half term are posted here: Hollymount School - Spellings with the dates of tests, we will also send a paper copy home with the spelling strategies that we use in class. Please note that the spellings that we learn in class each week will be tested 2 weeks later. More information can be found here: Hollymount School - Ready Steady Spell (Year 2-6)
IDL https://idlsgroup.com/ is a great site to practise all maths skills and all children have access. All children also have access to times table rock stars https://play.ttrockstars.com/ which is fun and they can challenge their friends! Passwords will be sent home in the next few days. Please see https://www.hollymount.org/Maths-at-home/ for more information.
Hollymount Entitlement:
Summer 2
30th June - Raynes Park High School - Wizard of Oz Production
7th July 4M, 8th July 4S - Morden Hall Park - rivers and living things
PE Days (wear PE kit to school)
4S - Wednesdays and Thursdays
4M - Monday and Thursday. Friday is dance, PE kit is optional.
Website information
Remember to check out our website page for more information https://www.hollymount.org/Year-4/
Our website also includes all curriculum information so you can find out what your child is learning https://www.hollymount.org/Our-Curriculum/ and has advice for support positive mental health https://www.hollymount.org/Mental-Health-and-Wellbeing/
