Dear Parent/Carer

We are writing to advise you of the arrangements for the Year 4 Swimming Programme for Autumn 2023 & Summer 2024. The children will have 12 weeks of 30-minute swimming sessions split into 2 blocks between 30^th October to 4^th December (6 Weeks) and 15^th April to 3^rd June (6 Sessions). Swimming sessions will take place at 1610 Chilton Sports Centre. The children will be taught in their two separate classes.

The school will fund the cost of the swimming tuition and we are asking for parents to contribute for the transport only which will be a cost of £30.00 (increased from last year due to the rise in transports costs).  Please visit: www.scopay.com/eastoverprimary to log in to your Child’s Scopay account where you can make payment by 19^th October 2023. If insufficient contributions are made towards transport costs, we may have to consider alternative arrangements i.e. walking to and from the swimming pool.

Swimming forms a crucial and compulsory part of the children’s P.E. curriculum and is a ‘life-skill’ that children need for their own safety.  We hope that you will be able to support the school in fulfilling the swimming programme by ensuring that your child has a swimming kit with them on swimming days.

Yours sincerely

Year 4 Times Tables Check- June 2024

                                                            Monday 18^th September 2023

Dear Parents/Carers,

You may be aware that several years ago, the Government announced a new test for Year 4 children called the ‘Multiplication Tables Check’. Children are expected to know all their times tables up to 12 x 12 by the end of Year 4. At Eastover, the concept of times tables is introduced in Year 2, in the spring term, and is then refined throughout Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4.

Important information

• The check will take place in June, over a three-week period, from Monday 3^rd June 2024.
• Is completed online using a computer or a tablet.
• The children will answer 25 questions and are given 6 seconds to answer each question.
• The whole check takes 5 minutes.
• The check will be administered by Miss Hall, Mrs Sykes and Mrs Pierzchelska  individually.
• There are no problem-solving or division questions, only fluency questions, i.e. 7 x 8=, 4 x 6=
• There will be more questions from the 6,7,8,9 and 12 times tables than any of the others.
• There is no pass or fail.

The results will only be visible to school staff and will be made available in the end of term report in the summer. The data is used to help us support those who need it as they continue through the school.

How can you help?

Supporting your child with TTRockstars is a vital part of the preparation. The dashboard is checked daily by teachers to ensure the children are completing their homework fequently. All children should spend a minimum of 10 minutes each night, on either TTRockstars.

When you’re in the car, songs on YouTube are a great way to engage your child and there are also many songs available on Alexa or similar home speaker systems. Asking your child quick-fire questions also helps and for some, writing the question and the answer down will be useful too.

In class, we use https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers/ks2-maths-the-6-times-table-with-fred-the-red/zrq3xyc to engage the children which is always very well received!

If you have any further questions regarding the Times Tables Check, please feel free to contact Miss Hall, Mrs Sykes or Mrs Pierzchelska.

Thank you for your continued support.

Miss Hall

Maths Lead