Primary · English
Close the gap before upper primary widens it
P4 is the last year before the paper gets materially harder. It is the most useful year to fix comprehension technique and grammar accuracy.
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Format
Live online via Zoom
Lessons
Weekly 1.5-hour lessons
Class size
Maximum 6 students
Taught in
English
Fees for this class are set out on our schedule and fees page. Every class is capped at six students.
Does this sound familiar?
Signs your child may need this class
- Understands the passage but loses marks on the questions
- Makes the same grammar errors despite correction
- Reads fluently but writes in short, repetitive sentences
- Guesses at vocabulary questions rather than using context
What changes in P4
The questions stop asking where the answer is and start asking what it means. A pupil who has been finding answers by matching words to the passage runs out of road here, usually quite suddenly.
How we teach it
Comprehension is taught as a set of recognisable question types, each with a way in. Pupils learn to identify which type they are looking at before they start writing, which is most of the work. Grammar is corrected in their own writing rather than practised in isolation.
What the class covers
- Comprehension — multiple-choice and open-ended technique
- Cloze passages and using context for meaning
- Grammar accuracy, tenses and subject-verb agreement
- Vocabulary building in and beyond the passage
- Sentence variety and connectors
- Situational writing basics
What's included
- Weekly live lesson with guided practice
- Marked written work with specific comments
- Vocabulary and grammar notes to keep
- Make-up options if a lesson is missed
Questions parents ask
My child reads a lot but still scores poorly. Why?
Reading builds vocabulary and fluency; it does not teach question technique. Those are separate skills, and the second one is what most comprehension marks actually test.
Is P4 English different from P3?
The passages lengthen and the open-ended questions start asking for inference rather than retrieval. It is a noticeable step, and it is why P4 is a sensible year to address technique.
How much writing will my child do?
Written work every week, marked with comments rather than only a grade. In a class of six that is possible; in a class of twenty it generally is not.
More general questions are answered on our FAQ page, and our reasoning for capping every class at six is set out in about us.
Ask about P4 English
We will confirm current availability and let you know whether this class is the right fit for your child.
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