Year 3

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 academic year at Edward the Elder! We hope you have all had a relaxing Summer and are ready to welcome the children back into a settled routine.

I am delighted to be the children’s teacher and to help them transition smoothly into Key Stage 2. Helping us closely in Year 3 will be Teaching Assistants Mrs Campbell and Mrs Houlston. We are all hoping to create some exciting learning opportunities for the children this year!

To provide you with as much information as possible, I have attached a copy of the Year 3 timetable. This gives a brief outline of the children’s day, but should only be viewed as a guide as it is subject to change throughout the year.

Purple creative homework books will continue this year – creative homework aims to consolidate as well as extend the children’s learning. Therefore, it is essential the homework is completed; please encourage and remind your child about it.

Children will continue to receive reading books linked to their ability from school which can be changed once completed, we expect books to be changed at least weekly. You will find your child’s reading diary in their book bag – we are continuing with writing in the dates so that each page represents each week of the term. Please support us with writing in your child’s reading diary. Children will have access to reading journals should they wish to complete them but these will not be compulsory – these could be included during purple homework though.

Children will receive weekly ‘Whole Class’ spellings. These will be given on a Thursday and tested on the following Thursday. In addition, children will also receive a ‘Spelling Lesson’ test which will be given out on a Tuesday and tested on the following Tuesday.

PE will take place on Monday and Wednesday, please ensure your child has the correct PE kit in school. White round neck t-shirt, shorts (black or navy) and black pumps. The PE sessions will be taught by Mrs Harper and will cover a range of skills. It would also be appreciated if all uniform (including PE kit and pumps) is labelled with the children’s full name and class. Jewellery should not be worn in school with the exception of stud earrings, and in line with Health and Safety guidelines, these should not be worn on PE days. Children may be asked to remove earrings before PE sessions. Long hair should also be tied back in preparation for PE.

The children will now have access to the main playground at break and lunch times instead of the KS1 playground, however, all routines throughout KS2 are very similar to KS1 and will allow the children to continue developing as they have done in previous years. 

We have some fantastic topics planned for Year 3 this year – starting with the Autumn Term, our first exciting topic is ‘That’s All, Folks!’. You can find out more about this thematic approach to learning on our Year 3 Autumn Curriculum Overview.

Please note Year 3 will enter the main gate at 8:45am and anyone arriving after 8:55am will be marked as late. Children should be collected from our external classroom door at 3:15pm. We cannot allow children to walk home with a different adult without verbal or written consent from parents/carers who usually collect them.

A reminder that if your child is asthmatic, please ensure an in date inhaler and spacer is present in school at all times. Please ensure you have informed the office with any updated medical information.

Mrs Campbell, Mrs Houlston and I are really looking forward to working with you over the coming months to ensure your children have a successful year full of exciting learning and progress. If you have any questions or queries now, or at any time throughout the year, please do not hesitate to speak to me either after school or by making an appointment via the school office.

Thank you for your continued support.

Miss C Squire

Year 3 Teacher