St Thomas More
Catholic Primary School
Year 3 Samuel
Welcome to Year 3
Year 3 is an exciting time of change and new beginnings as children enter the next stage of their school journey and become part of Key Stage 2. Having developed strong foundations in Reading, Writing and Maths during Key Stage 1, children are now ready to broaden their knowledge, tackle more challenging ideas and become increasingly confident in applying what they know.
Year 3 children are full of curiosity, imagination and enthusiasm, and we encourage them to embrace new experiences, ask questions and have a go when things feel difficult. Throughout the year, they develop important skills such as independence, organisation, problem-solving and perseverance, whilst learning to take greater ownership of their choices and responsibilities.
Guided by our Catholic values, we encourage children to use their God-given talents, care for others and grow into confident, compassionate and responsible young people.
Year 3 Preparation & Transition
Upon entering Year 3, we hope that the children will be able to…
- Be curious – formulate your own questions for classmates and teachers
- Understand the importance of taking turns and sharing
- Find solutions when conflicts arise
- Change reading book independently
- Write first name and surname correctly
- Stick sheets into their book neatly
- Write and underline the date and learning objective
During Year 3 we hope that the children will...
- Organise themselves for learning
- Listen and respond thoughtfully
- Manage equipment responsibly
- Take pride in presentation
- Begin planning their own work
- Learn from mistakes and use feedback to improve
- Show respect for different opinions
- Become more resilient when challenged
- Read regularly at home and talk about what they have read
- Use a growth mindset by persevering with difficult tasks
- Develop good learning habits, including focus and concentration
- Become more confident in explaining their thinking, especially in Maths and Writing
How can parents/carers help?
- Encourage children to solve problems before asking for help
- Discuss books together
- Promote independence with homework
- Read with your child for 10 – 15 minutes a day
- Practise times tables and number facts regularly
- Support good attendance and punctuality
Year 3 Curriculum
What will Year 3 be learning this year?
Term 1 – Secrets Beneath the Sands
Term 2 – Invisible Force Files
Term 3 – From Lava to Leaves
Term 4 – Survive the Ages: Shelter, Stone, Steel
Term 5 – The Ground Beneath Our Feet/ Extreme Earth
Term 6 – The Science of Staying Strong
Year 3 PE
Year 3 have PE lessons every Tuesday and Thursday. These will be a mixture of indoor and outdoor PE lessons and the children can attend school in their PE kit on these days.
Year 3 Trips
In Year 3, we believe that rich, first-hand experiences help children to deepen their understanding and bring their learning to life. Trips, visits and opportunities to explore the wider world encourage children to be curious, ask questions and make meaningful connections between what they learn in the classroom and the world around them. These experiences also help children to develop confidence, independence and resilience as they encounter new places, people and situations. As they prepare for the next stage of their education, we encourage our children to embrace every opportunity to discover, experience and learn, whilst developing a sense of wonder and appreciation for the beauty of God's creation and the communities of which they are a part.
Have a look below at what we have planned for this academic year:
Year 3 Homework
Reading Fluency: Reading books will go home on a Friday and will be expected to be brought to school each day. Children should read to an adult at home 3 x week. Free readers should also be heard at home by an adult.
Please record your child’s reading in their KS2 Reading Record each time they read. An adult should listen to your child read and make a brief note in the record to help us monitor and support their reading progress.
Reading Comprehension: Each child will receive a CGP Reading Comprehension workbook. Children are expected to complete one page every two weeks. Workbooks will be checked and marked on Fridays. If the page has not been completed, children will be given time during the Friday session to complete it.
Spellings: Spellings are set by the class teacher on a weekly basis. The number of spellings will be set on an individual basis. The spellings will be in line with year group expectations and topic-specific spellings.
The spellings will be loaded onto the Spelling Frame App.
All children will have a log-in that will be stuck onto the inside page of their Reading Record. Children will be expected to practice spellings at least 2 x week and there will be a class spelling test every Friday.
Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar: Each child will receive a CGP English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling workbook. Children are expected to complete one page every week. Workbooks will be checked and marked on Fridays. If the page has not been completed, children will be given time during the Friday session to complete it.
Times Tables: Children in Year 3 should access the Times Table Rockstars website: https://ttrockstars.com/
All children will have a log-in that will be stuck onto the inside page of their Reading Record. Children will be expected to practice year group specific times tables (7x, 8x, 9x, 11x) at least once a week.
Maths: Each child will receive a CGP Maths workbook. Children are expected to complete one page every week, linking to the week's learning. Workbooks will be checked and marked on Fridays. If the page has not been completed, children will be given time during the Friday session to complete it.
Useful Information
Below you will find helpful information to support you and your child throughout their time in Year 3. Explore our Year 3 Curriculum Map, read the Meet the Teacher information, weekly timetable and homework expectations to help you stay informed and involved in your child’s learning journey.