1. From Mrs Townsend, Mrs Kent, Mrs Craske & Miss Miles.

2. Reading Whilst the children are still settling into year 3, we will continue to use a similar reading book system as they have been used to in year 2. Year 3 Books will be changed on Thursdays, which will involve Reading books and Reading diaries being collected in on a Thursday and then they will be sent home with the children on the following Friday. Please support us by reading regularly with your child and noting this down in their reading diaries. As per the homework policy they should be reading 3 times a week.

3. Reading Diaries Over the next term we will be introducing the new ‘My Reading Diary’ which is what is currently used in KS2. There will be an example page at the beginning of the book which we hope will be helpful. Please ensure that page numbers and dates are written in the margin. Two different comments, per book, should be made by children in the larger ruled section at intervals. Children should also give a star rating and parents should give an overall comment at the end of the book. There is a section for this at the bottom of the page. Free readers in the class have already moved onto this diary and those children who are working at stage 14+ will be moved onto the new diaries this week. The rest of the children will be moved gradually onto the KS2 diary over this term when they are ready. Please note that children will not necessarily need to read all books from each stage. We will be striving to move them on as soon as they are ready and will be putting support in place for those children who need it.

4. Let’s look together at an example…

5. Changing Books Once the children have finished their books please sign to confirm they are ready to have a new book. Children who are free readers can change their book themselves, once they have finished it and their comments. Children using stage books will have their books changed on a Thursday using the book list which will be stuck into their new reading diaries. Children will be reminded to change their books regularly but ultimately will be expected to do this independently.

6. Reading bookmarks and AF’s Once the children get their new reading diary they will be given a book mark to support them when writing their reading diary comments. The assessment focus AF is at the top in bold and underneath it are a few questions to discuss and answer in their diary for their comments as well as the questions on the front cover. The bookmarks will be changed when we feel the children have met the AF fully at school and home.

7. Homework This will be given out on a Friday and is due back the following Thursday. Homework is a vital part of your child’s learning as it will either give extra practice or be necessary for following lessons, please support children in completing this. Homework will alternate between maths and literacy.

8. Where to find your child’s homework Written into their homework diary. -Reading -Spellings -Times Tables -English / Maths.

9. Spellings and Tables Spellings will be given out on a Friday and stuck into their homework diaries to be tested on the following Friday. The spelling list is split into 3 sections: List 1, List 2 & List 3 and WOTW. The children have already been put into spelling groups from a spelling assessment they have had and should write in which ones they need to learn. (This is not fixed and may change during the year as they progress). Tables tests will take place on a Friday and children will work through the different times tables at their own pace. When the children have achieved two consecutive weeks of 13/13 they will move up to the next times table. Spelling and times table results will be recorded weekly in their homework diary on a Friday!

10. PE Please make sure your child has a full PE kit in school all the time: tracksuit and trainers for outdoor, t-shirts, shorts and plimsolls for indoor PE. If your child wears tights to school please include a pair of P.E socks. Earrings must be taken out on PE days and hair tied back for safety. PE will be on the following days: 3.1 – Tuesday (Gym) and Friday (Outdoor) 3.2 – Tuesday (Gym) and Friday (Outdoor) 3.3 – Monday (Gym) and Friday (Outdoor)

11. Swimming Summer Term

12. School Trips & Visits Autumn Rocks and Soils Workshop by an ecologist from the British Ecological Society. Spring Warrior Day at Celtic Harmony Camp where the children will experience first-hand how the people of the Celtic Iron Age, who lived over 2000 years ago, made food, clothes and shelter from the natural environment Summer Aztecs themed Day where the children will be able to dress up and take part in a chocolate workshop!

13. Enrichment Time This will take place for an hour every Friday. It replaces afternoon playtimes. The children will choose an option every half term. Miss Miles’ Super Science Experiments. Mrs Townsend’s Crazy construction Time. Mrs Kent’s Daring Disney Designs

14. At the end of the day…. We will be trialling a new end of the day transition starting tomorrow. The children will come out where year 1 currently come out. This will be for 2 weeks to see if it works better, as it is currently very busy at the exit where year 3 come out. Year 3 teachers are available for quick queries or concerns at this time. However if you would like to speak to us privately please make an appointment via the school office. If your child is to be collected by someone different from the usual person, please make the child’s teacher aware of this in a letter or phone call to the office.

15. Extra information Please ensure you child has an art apron in school. The new homework diaries will be replacing their yellow contact books. Once the children’s pen runs out they will need to bring in 50p to pay for a replacement pen. However if you prefer to send them with their own pen then you can- must be a blue handwriting pen (no Biros) Children do not need to bring in their own pencil cases. All equipment will be provided in class. Thank you for listening Have you got any questions?