Year 4 articles
Key Stage 2 Geography – the curriculum
What will your child be learning in Key Stage 2 geography, and how can you support their work? We take a look.
Key Stage 2 PE – what your child learns
We take a look at the learning which takes place at PE in school and how you can help your child to get ahead at home.
Simple experiments for KS2 scientists
Have you got a budding Galileo or Newton in the family? Help your child's developing scientific enquiries by finding out what they will be learning in science lessons and how to support their practice at home.
Key Stage 2 art explained
Find out what your child will be doing in art lessons at school, plus four top tips to foster your child's creativity at home.
Key Stage 2 design and technology: what children learn
Get clued up on what your child will be learning in Design and Technology so you can help them build on their lessons at home.
Key Stage 2 drama – the curriculum
Do you have a young starlet in your household? We take a look at some of the different skills and activities your child will learn in Key Stage 2 drama classes.
What your child learns in Key Stage 2 music
Find out what your child will be taught in music lessons and how to build on that at home with your budding musician.
Key Stage 2 history explained
Find out about what your child will learn in their KS2 history lessons and how you can help them get ahead at home.
Film-making and animation fun for children
How can you stimulate your primary-school child's interest in literacy and storytelling? From script-writing to editing, these hands-on movie-making activities are perfect for older children to have a go at. You might even help inspire the next Danny Boyle!
How your child develops in Key Stage 2
What changes can you expect to see in your child over the next four years?
What your child learns in KS2 maths curriculum
Think maths involves just adding, subtracting and times tables? Think again. Here’s a rundown of all the things your child will be learning in Years 3 to 6.
What your child learns in Key Stage 2 science
Want to know more about what your child gets up to in science class at school? Here’s your guide to the topics they’ll cover.
How your Year 4 child develops
Sociable and independent – here’s what to expect from your child in Year 4.
Year 4 English: what your child learns
Unsure what your child gets up to in English lessons? Get clued up with our guide to the Year 4 English curriculum.
Year 4 maths: what your child learns
Want to know what subjects will be the focus in maths lessons in Year 4? Find a detailed breakdown here.
Year 4 science: what your child learns
Find out what is taught in Year 4 science and how you can build on your child’s learning at home.
School reports decoded
It’s the end of term and that means one thing – school report time. But what exactly do those cryptic comments in your child’s report mean? Jessica Powell gets teachers to explain.
Apostrophes – get them right every time
Apostrophes are tricky things. Do they imply ownership or are they there to denote a missing letter? Do they go before the ‘s’ or after? Jackie Cosh explains how to help your child master them.
Do boys learn in a different way to girls?
Research shows boys are lagging behind girls in reading, writing, maths and science. If the teaching is the same, is gender the issue? Emily Organ explores boys' achievement in the classroom.
How is religion taught in schools?
Every school has to teach religious education and hold an act of worship each day. But what happens if you don’t like what’s on offer? In this extract from TheSchoolRun's The Essential Guide to Primary School, we explore what your child learns and your rights as a parent.
How to help with maths homework: a non-expert's guide
Maths is one subject that fills many parents with dread - but is it really so hard? We talk to author and deputy head teacher Matt Revill to find out how parents can help their children's maths learning.
Five steps to success in developing your child’s handwriting
In a world where technology is rapidly taking over, teaching children handwriting skills is still as important as it ever was. Best-selling author Bernadette Tynan offers five steps to handwriting success.
Handwriting practice makes perfect
Why is handwriting practice so important, and how can you help your child to learn? Find out in our guide.
How debating can benefit your child
From improving speaking and listening skills to building self-esteem, learning to debate could have many benefits for your primary-school child. Lucy Dimbylow finds out more.
The primary design and technology curriculum
Is your child a budding designer? We take a look at what design and technology lessons involve.
Learning numeracy at home
All around us are a wealth of mathematical problems just waiting to be solved. Here’s how to help your child extend their numeracy skills at home.
Is your child getting enough sleep?
Is your child overtired – or not tired enough? Here’s how to make sure they’re getting the right amount of sleep for their age.
Parent teacher meeting tips from real parents
Whether you’re preparing for your first meeting, or want to improve on past experience, these top tips will help you know what to get out of your time with your child’s teacher.
Boost your child's confidence with glasses
Making the transition to wearing glasses doesn’t have to be traumatic! We get tips from parents and experts on how to make the experience stress-free and confidence-building.
Homework tips for children with dyslexia
The British Dyslexia Association shares tips to help make doing homework a calm and productive process for your dyslexic child.
What is partitioning?
Not sure what your child means when they talk about partitioning numbers in maths problems? We explain the method, and how your child will use it.
7 vital road safety skills you must teach your child
Worried about your child walking to school on their own? Help them become street savvy during Walk to School Month by teaching them these key principles of walking safely.
Growing pains explained
Aches and pain don’t just happen in your 80s – children can experience strong twinges and throbbings, which can even wake them up at night. Dr. David Shortland explains how to help your child through it.
9 ways to help your child love poetry
Use National Poetry Day as an excuse to enjoy the creative wordplay that poetry can offer! Coax out the budding poet in your child with these games and activities, and boost their literacy skills the fun way.
Managing allergies at school: a guide for parents
It’s easy to keep track of what your child eats when they’re at home, but school is another matter. We’ve rounded up the latest advice on how to manage your child’s allergies at school.
What is a number line?
Spotted something about a number line in your child’s homework instructions, and not sure what it means? We review the basics of this amazing, adaptable educational tool and explain how it's used in KS1 and KS2 maths.
Easy ways to engage your child with maths
Do the words “I need help with my maths homework” strike fear into your heart? Our tried-and-tested tips from maths experts will help change your child’s attitude to numbers – and yours
Roald Dahl Day: five ways to celebrate
While there’s always a reason to enjoy and celebrate the amazing books that Roald Dahl wrote, make a special effort on Roald Dahl Day to organise phizz-whizzingly brilliant activities and scrumdiddlyumptious treats!
Great family days out, recommended by parents
Looking for a great family day out? From the Kyle of Lochalsh in the north to Helston in Cornwall in the south, TheSchoolRun’s interactive Great Family Days Out Map offers hundreds of suggestions from the people who know best – real parents.
Simple ways to save on school costs
We all want to give our children the best in life, but with the cost of living rising it can seem impossible to pinch those pennies and pay for school materials at the same time. Uniforms, meals, trips and birthday parties – the list goes on. But who knows how to budget better than a primary-school parent? Check out our tried-and-tested budgeting tips from other parents.