11+ Year 4 Half-Term Plan

A good 11+ Year 4 half-term plan uses about 20 to 25 minutes a day of focused learning, plus daily reading. Mix times tables, a maths game, a short English or vocabulary task and a reasoning puzzle across the week, and leave lots of time for rest and play. Year 4 is about building strong habits and confidence, not about timed exam papers. For most schools in England, October half-term is Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, but please check your own school's calendar. 

Half-term is a perfect time to give your Year 4 child a calm, happy boost. This guide shares a simple 11+ Year 4 half-term plan, with a day-by-day timetable, fun activities and clear tips, so you know exactly what to do and what to skip. 

Why use a half-term plan for 11+ in Year 4?

Year 4 is the middle of primary school. Your child is no longer a little one, and they are not yet facing the big 11 plus test. That makes it a great time to build good habits slowly and happily.

For most children, the 11 plus test comes in September of Year 6. A child in Year 4 now will probably sit it around autumn 2028, so there is time. A plan does not mean pressure. It just means you know what to do each day, so half-term is not wasted and not stressful either.

Half-term is a special chance. There is no homework, no early mornings and no rush. A few relaxed learning moments each day can make a real difference over time.

Try our 11+ October half-term course for Year 4

Is Year 4 the right time to start 11 plus preparation?

Many families ask this, and the answer is yes, as long as you keep it gentle. Many experts say Year 4 is a good time for light and regular practice. Most families begin more focused preparation in Year 5.

Here is what that means in plain words:

• Do: read a lot, learn times tables, grow vocabulary, practise English and maths basics, and play puzzle games.

• Do not: rush into long, timed exam papers or give up weekends for study.

Our approach to 11 plus preparation Year 4 follows this idea exactly. We build strong foundations first, so that Year 5 feels smooth and confident instead of stressful.

11+ Year 4 half-term plan: What to focus on

Most 11 plus tests look at English, maths, and often reasoning. Here is how those skills fit into a Year 4 plan.

How much should a Year 4 child do at half-term?

Children aged 8 and 9 can usually focus a little longer than younger children, but they still need lots of fun and rest. Here is a simple guide.

Try to keep each sitting short, about 10 to 15 minutes. You can do two small sittings in a day, one in the morning and one later. It is also fine to skip a day. A relaxed child learns better than a tired one.

11+ Year 4 reading and vocabulary plan

Reading is still the best thing you can do. Children who read widely meet more new words, and that helps with comprehension, writing, and reasoning questions. You cannot cram vocabulary, so a little every day is the way to go.

1. Read a mix of books

Choose stories, poems, fact books, and children's news. A mix of reading styles helps your child meet different kinds of words and ideas.

2. Collect new words

Keep a "word jar" or a small notebook. Write each new word and what it means. Try to use it in a sentence at least three times during the week.

3. Talk about what you read

Ask, "Why do you think the character did that?" and "How do you know?" These questions build the thinking skills used in comprehension tasks.

4. Visit the library

Let your child pick a few new books. Borrowing from a library is free, and trying new authors helps children grow into confident readers.

11+ Year 4 maths plan: Times tables, fractions and problem solving

By the end of Year 4, the National Curriculum expects children to know their times tables up to 12 x 12. Year 4 children also work with fractions, decimals, shapes, area and money. Half-term is a lovely time to practise these in real life.

1. Times table games

Play quick games, like "beat the clock", "table tennis" (you say a question, they answer, then swap) or a times table card game. Start with the tables your child finds easy, then add the harder ones: 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12.

2. Bake with fractions

Baking is full of fractions. Ask your child to measure half a cup, a quarter of a block of butter or three quarters of a pint. Then cut the cake into equal pieces and talk about each fraction.

3. Shopping and money

Give your child a pretend budget. They choose items, add the prices, and work out the change. This builds adding, subtracting, and careful thinking.

4. Measure and calculate

Measure a room, a table or the garden, and work out the perimeter or the area. Ask, "If we put a rug here, how much space would be left?"

5. One word problem a day

Read a short story problem together, like "A box has 6 rows of 8 chocolates. How many chocolates are in the box?" Ask your child to explain how they solved it. Explaining is a great test of real understanding.

11+ Year 4 English and spelling plan

English in Year 4 covers more than reading. Your child is also learning spelling patterns, punctuation and grammar ideas such as fronted adverbials, apostrophes and speech marks. Short, playful activities help these ideas stick.

• Spelling game: Choose five tricky words each day. Say them, build them with letter tiles, then test each other at the end of the week.

• Sentence challenge: Ask your child to start a sentence with an interesting opener, like "Without a sound," or "Later that day,". These are called fronted adverbials.

• Speech marks fun: Write a short chat between two characters, using inverted commas around the spoken words.

• Half-term diary: Write three to four sentences each day about the best part of it. Check for capital letters, full stops and one new word.

• Story starter: Give an opening line, like "The lights went out, and a tiny voice whispered my name." Let your child finish the story.

Always praise ideas first. Then pick one small thing to improve together. Keep it kind and positive.

Reasoning puzzles for Year 4 11 plus children

Many 11 plus tests include reasoning questions with words or shapes. Year 4 children do not need to drill these yet, but playful puzzles build clever thinking, and they are good fun.

A simple 5 day 11+ Year 4 half-term timetable

Here is an easy timetable you can copy. It uses the October half-term week as an example, but you can use it at any half-term. Swap days around, or skip a day if your child needs a rest.

11+ Year 4 multiplication tables check in June 2027

Year 4 children in England also take a short check on their times tables. It is called the multiplication tables check, or MTC. It is not part of the 11 plus, but the skills help with both.

The check is about quick recall, so short and playful practice works best. Half-term is a great time to play times table games, so that the 6 second timer feels friendly, not scary.

Year 4 half-term plans for 11+ through the school year

You do not need to do everything at once. Here is how a calm Year 4 plan might grow across the year. Dates are the ones used by most schools in England, so please check your own school's calendar.

How to prepare for 11+ in Year 4 after half-term

When school starts again, keep the same gentle routine. A little reading each day, a few minutes of times tables and one short English or maths task a few times a week are enough. Slow and steady wins here.

Our guide: How to prepare for 11+ in Year 4 shares a calm routine for the whole year, with ideas for every term. It is a great next read.

How Pass 11 Plus Grammar helps 11+ Year 4 children

Many Year 4 children do well with a gentle plan at home. But some families like extra support, or have a child who feels unsure in reading or maths. Our Year 4 11 plus tuition builds strong foundations in a friendly way, so children feel proud and confident.

As your child grows, our 11 plus tuition helps them build the English, maths and reasoning skills that grammar school tests look for.

If you would like friendly advice, you can meet our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham, and we will happily talk through your options with no pressure.

Final thoughts

A good 11+ Year 4 half-term plan is simple. Read every day, play with times tables, add a little English and maths fun, and finish with a puzzle. 20-25 minutes a day, plus rest and play, is plenty. Small, happy steps now make Year 5 and Year 6 feel much easier.

There is no need to rush, and no need to worry. Keep it kind, keep it light and let your child's confidence grow. At Pass 11 Plus Grammar, we are always here to help when you are ready.