Year 4 articles
What is a fair test?
Understand what is meant by 'fair test' in primary-school science and organise your own child-friendly investigations at home to help your child practise this concept.
What are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks?
Do you know the difference between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks? Find out what your child will be taught in KS2 science and how you can support their learning about geology at home.
What is a prep school?
A prep school education can be the stepping stone to a place at one of the UK's best secondary schools. We explain how the system works.
What are food chains and food webs?
A food chain is a diagram that shows us how animals are linked by what they eat; in food webs we represent the links between animals who eat or are eaten by more than one kind of animal. We explain how children learn about food chains in the primary-school classroom in our guide for parents.
Primary science glossary for parents
From condensation to the water cycle, TheSchoolRun's primary-school science glossary offers a complete guide to all the concepts children are taught in EYFS, KS1 and KS2 science. Brush up on your own science knowledge, clear up homework confusion and understand exactly what your child is learning at school by reading our basic definitions (with links to more detailed explanations, teachers' tips and examples).
What is the water cycle?
What is the water cycle and how will children learn about it in geography and science at primary school? We explain the terminology parents need to know and give examples of learning activities completed in the classroom.
Concentration exercises for primary school children
Getting your child to concentrate can be a tricky task, so try these fun tasks to help improve their attention and focus.
What is a free reader?
Every parent looks forward to their child graduating from reading scheme books, but how and when do they make the leap? We explain what a 'free reader' is and when your child is likely to graduate from reading schemes.
The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) explained
A formal test of multiplication skills takes place in the summer term of Year 4. Our guide for parents explains how the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) will work in English primary schools.
Primary school parents' resolutions for the New Year
The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on what we could do differently in the 12 months ahead. Here are our resolutions for the year ahead...
Teachers' tips for creative writing
How can children get to grips with creative writing? We asked teacher and author Jacqueline Harris for her insider advice.
21 things that always happen on school mornings
The hour before you leave the house for school is always the most stressful of the day. Here's why...
Best science sets for children
Looking for ways to encourage your child's interest in the world around them? These learning-through-play sets are perfect for budding scientists, allowing them to get hands-on and experiment with simple physics, meteorology, geology, anatomy, mechanics and more.
What is an all-through school?
More and more schools are opening up that provide education for all children from age three to 19. We look at the pros and cons of this new model of schooling.
Best tablet toys for children
Every child we know loves playing with a tablet computer – and now connected toys take learning to a new level by combining hands-on play with digital animations to teach the basics of story-telling, maths, spelling, reading and physics. Tablet toys are definitely not just for kids!
School social media policies explained
With cyber safety and online bullying becoming increasingly problematic, many schools are adopting social media policies. But what do these documents actually do?
Best children's books about coding
How confident do you feel about supporting your child's interest in coding at home? Whatever your child's (or your!) level of knowledge, these books will take you through the basics with screenshots, step-by-step illustrations and plain English explanations about Scratch, Python and the basics of computational thinking and programming. You're just a few pages away from coding your first game...
16 truths about being a primary school parent at Christmas
'Tis the season to be jolly – but if you've got a child at primary school, the Christmas period can be a month-long feat of endurance. Good luck...
Surviving the festive season: parents' tips for SEN kids
Christmas crowds, lights, smells and lack of routine can make the holidays a challenging time for autistic children. Help keep the whole family happy during the festivities with practical tips from parents from the disability charity Scope’s online community.
The best charity clubs for kids
A charity membership is a great gift idea for your primary school child that will keep entertaining them – and helping others – all year round. From "adopting" a polar bear with the WWF to finding out how children around the world live with Plan International, we've rounded up our pick of the best.
16 of the best new books for children for Christmas 2015
Looking for the perfect books for your child to find under the tree? Whatever their interests or reading ability, there's a fantastic selection on offer this Christmas, from the latest Rick Riordan blockbuster to new classics, non-fiction treasures to pore over and laugh-out-loud funny reads. The holidays will be story-filled!
The etiquette of charity days at school
Do you feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of fundraising events at your child’s school? We take a look at the unofficial rules.
The truth about primary school photos
Hoping for a decent school photo of your child this year? You'll be lucky...
9 strategies for learning primary school spellings
If learning spellings always ends in tears and tantrums, trying another technique could help make it a less stressful process. We've rounded up the best methods to try.
17 things that make every primary school parent see red
Never underestimate the wrath of a parent whose child has just stepped in dog poo on the school run...
Creativity in primary science: to infinity and beyond
Is your child fascinated by the world around them, from the earth to the stars? Do they blast off from the kitchen table and explore Mars in a den made from sofa cushions? Bryony Turford, primary teacher and director of STEAM Education for the Astro Science Challenge, shares her tips for making science come alive and encouraging children to explore science-based subjects away from the classroom.
Hands-on maths: how it could help your child
Counting on fingers is an important maths tool in the early years of primary school, but is it something your child should outgrow? We look at the pros and cons of hands-on maths strategies.
What is a pen licence?
Earning a pen licence is a proud moment for many primary-school children, but what does your child need to do to achieve this milestone?
What is a faith school?
They’re some of the best-performing schools in the UK, but faith schools have many opponents. We take a look at the faith school system and how it works.
What is a teaching assistant?
Far from being just an extra person to buy an end-of-term gift for, teaching assistants (TAs) can play an important part in your child’s learning. We explain what their role involves and how they'll help in the classroom.
Grammar in primary school
From abstract nouns to verb tenses and the passive voice, your child will be taught lots of grammatical terminology and concepts during their time in primary school. Find out more about what they learn, when, and how grammar knowledge is tested in KS1 SATs and KS2 SATs.
Museums reviewed by parents: Down House
Down House, the family home of Victorian scientist Charles Darwin, offers a unique insight into one of the world's greatest thinkers. Visit to stand in the study where Darwin wrote 'On the Origin of Species', stroll through beautiful gardens and find out more about the theory of evolution. Our family testers share their tips for a great day out in rural Kent.
What is a maintained school?
The vast majority of primary schools in England are maintained schools, but what does it actually mean if your child goes to one of these schools?
6 ways to bring creative writing to life
Does your child’s writing lack a certain spark? We asked the experts for their top tips for injecting some colour into primary-school children's prose.
Creative writing prompts for kids
From pictures to music, using prompts can inspire your child to produce great writing. We look at the benefits of creative writing prompts, and how to use them.
Editing creative writing
Learning how to revise a piece of written work is an important skill for primary school children, and one that it’s never too soon to help them master.
Pre-teens and homework: how to survive
Struggling to get your KS2 child to focus on their homework? We reveal the strategies that could take the stress out of homework time.
Museums reviewed by parents: Churchill War Rooms
Travel back in time to WWII and the days of the Blitz in the Cabinet War Rooms, where Churchill and his aides made the decisions that helped to win the war. From interactive maps to expert staff, our tester picks the highlights for children and families.
What is an NQT?
All Newly Qualified Teachers have to do on-the-job training to be able to teach in state schools, but what does it actually mean for your child to be taught by an NQT?
Primary school assessment in Scotland explained
The Scottish National Standardised Assessments are online standardised assessments in literacy and numeracy completed by children in Scotland in P1, P4, P7 and S3. We explain what parents need to know about the SNSAs.