Hello! My name is Miss Riley and I’m thrilled to be teaching Year 4 at Dovecot Primary School. I have a real passion for creating a positive, engaging classroom where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. I believe in nurturing curiosity, encouraging creativity, and helping every child grow in confidence.

I’m especially passionate about using drama, music, and storytelling in my teaching—perhaps inspired by my love of musical theatre and films! I also enjoy exploring the world through travel and trying new foods, which often sparks some great classroom discussions.

At home, I love spending time with my two dogs, Emmie and Minnie, who keep me busy with beach walks and plenty of muddy adventures!

  

Reading in Year 4

Your child will be given a set of books and a reading diary to bring home. Please ensure these are kept in their book bag and brought to school every day.

Your child will read with myself or Miss Muldoon during the week. In addition, the children will have lots of opportunities to read and enjoy books both at school and at home throughout the term.

Pupil of the Week

Each Friday, one child’s name will be picked from a hat and chosen to be our Pupil of the Week. This special role includes helping with classroom jobs, supporting the teacher, and even taking the register with a friend.

General Reminders

• PE will take place every Tuesday – please ensure your child has their full PE kit in school.
• Any letters or reply slips that need to be returned can be placed in your child’s book bag.
• The children are encouraged to check their book bags each morning and hand in letters after the register.

 

 

Year 4 – Summer 1 Learning

As we begin Summer 1, Year 4 are looking forward to another exciting half term filled with creativity, challenge, and discovery across the curriculum. The children will continue to build on their existing knowledge and skills while exploring new texts, concepts, and engaging learning experiences. Below is an overview of what your child will be learning this half term.

 

Mathematics – Decimals B, Money and Time

In Maths, children will begin by developing their understanding of Decimals B, building on prior knowledge of place value and how decimals relate to fractions. They will practise comparing, ordering and solving problems involving decimals.

Later in the half term, we will move on to Money, where children will apply their knowledge to real-life contexts, including calculating amounts, giving change, and solving practical problems.

We will then explore Time, where children will learn to read, write and convert between analogue and digital time, as well as solve problems involving duration and timetables.

 

English – The Journey by Francesca Sanna

This half term, Year 4 will be exploring the powerful and thought-provoking text The Journey. Through this story, children will develop an understanding of themes such as migration, resilience, and hope.

Writing Outcome 1: Refugee Narrative
Children will write their own narrative inspired by the text, focusing on building tension, developing characters and using descriptive language to engage the reader.

Writing Outcome 2: Diary Writing
Children will write a diary entry from a character’s perspective, developing their ability to express thoughts and feelings while using appropriate language and structure.

 

Science – Sound

In Science, children will explore the topic of Sound. They will learn about:

• How sounds are made
• How sound travels through different materials
• Pitch and volume
• How vibrations create sound

Through practical investigations and discussion, children will develop their scientific enquiry skills and deepen their understanding of how sound works in everyday life.

 

History – Vikings and Anglo-Saxons

This half term, children will continue and complete their History unit:

The Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor (AD).

They will explore key historical concepts including:

Invasion, Power, Community, Kingdom, Trade, Migration, Belief, Settlement, Heir, Monarchy, Conflict, King and Religion

Children will develop their understanding of chronology, cause and consequence, and historical significance, building a clearer picture of how Britain changed during this period.

 

Geography – Map Skills and Rivers

Following History, children will develop their geographical knowledge through map skills and the study of environmental regions.

They will explore:

• Environmental regions of Europe, Russia, North and South America
• Key geographical concepts such as location, scale and proximity

Children will also revisit their learning on rivers, deepening their understanding of:

• Human and physical geography, including location, order, proximity, region, landscape and systems

 

Art – Sculpture (Antony Gormley Study)

In Art, children will study the work of Antony Gormley, focusing on sculpture.

They will:

• Explore 3D forms and how structures are built
• Learn techniques for joining materials
• Create clay sculptures inspired by “Another Place”

This unit encourages creativity, experimentation and the development of artistic skills in three dimensions.

 

Computing – Effective Searching

In Computing, children will learn about effective searching. They will develop their ability to:

• Use search engines efficiently
• Identify reliable and accurate information
• Understand how search results are ranked

This will support their wider learning across the curriculum.

 

PE – Rounders

In PE, Year 4 will be developing their skills through rounders. Children will practise:

• Batting and fielding
• Throwing and catching
• Teamwork and communication
• Understanding rules and gameplay

Through a range of activities, children will build confidence, coordination and sportsmanship.