Curriculum overview
Year 4 Curriculum Overview
A clear, parent-friendly overview of typical Year 4 learning areas—mapped to the British National Curriculum and delivered through ETIA Academy’s calm, project-based approach.
How to use this page
This overview summarises the typical learning areas for Year 4 (England) and shows how ETIA Academy covers these through integrated projects. Use it to plan your home learning, track progress, and choose programmes that fit your child’s pace.
British National Curriculum (typical Year 4 overview)
Subjects & learning focus
In Year 4, children deepen core skills (reading, writing, maths and scientific thinking) while building wider knowledge across the arts, humanities, computing and wellbeing.
English
Reading comprehension (including inference), vocabulary, spelling patterns, handwriting, grammar and punctuation, and writing for different purposes (stories, reports, explanations and persuasive pieces).
Maths
Secure place value, mental and written methods for the four operations, times tables fluency, fractions and decimals foundations, measurement, geometry and reasoning/problem-solving.
Science
Working scientifically through practical investigations. Typical themes include states of matter, sound, electricity and living things/habitats—developing observation, prediction and fair testing.
Foundation subjects (overview)
History, Geography, Art & Design, Design & Technology, Computing, Music, PE, PSHE/RSHE and Languages—taught through meaningful contexts that build knowledge, creativity and confidence.
Foundation subjects (Year 4) at a glance
These areas are typically covered across the year and can be woven into projects alongside English, Maths and Science.
History
Chronology and historical enquiry; studying people, events and changes over time using sources and evidence.
Geography
Locational knowledge, map skills, physical and human geography, and comparing places and environments.
Art & Design
Drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media; learning about artists and developing techniques and personal style.
Design & Technology
Designing, making and evaluating products; simple mechanisms/structures; food and nutrition; safe tool use.
Computing
Digital literacy, online safety, creating content, and programming concepts (sequencing, repetition, debugging).
Music, PE, PSHE/RSHE & Languages
Singing/listening/composing; physical skills and teamwork; wellbeing and relationships; and building basic vocabulary and speaking confidence in a language (often French).
ETIA Academy academic curriculum
How we cover Year 4 through projects
ETIA Academy programmes are built around 12 modules with integrated learning outcomes. Each project naturally blends English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Computing and Life Skills—so children practise core skills while exploring real-world themes like sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship.
How this works in practice
A simple way to plan, teach and evidence learning at home—without pressure.
1) Choose a module
Pick a module that matches your child’s interests and your family schedule. Each module includes clear outcomes and suggested resources.
2) Learn through the project
Work through activities at your child’s pace. Reading, writing, maths and research are embedded so learning feels connected and purposeful.
3) Capture evidence
Save photos, short notes, written work or recordings. Evidence can be light-touch—what matters is progress and understanding.
4) Review & reflect
Use simple reflection prompts to build metacognition: what went well, what was tricky, and what to try next.
5) Map to subjects
At the end, link what your child did back to subject areas (English, Maths, Science, etc.) so you can confidently show coverage over time.
6) Move on when ready
There’s no fixed timetable—repeat, extend or progress depending on confidence and mastery.
Home education guidance (UK)
For official information about elective home education in England, visit the government guidance.
Important note
This page is provided for general guidance only and is not a substitute for official documentation. The National Curriculum is statutory for maintained schools in England; home-educating families may choose different approaches. ETIA Academy aligns learning outcomes to the British National Curriculum where appropriate, while keeping learning flexible and pressure-free.
Ready to explore Year 4 learning—without the pressure?
See our self-paced programmes and choose a pathway that fits your child’s pace and interests.