1. What is the same and what will be different?
Welcome to Year 3/4
What is the same and what will be different?

2. As you would expect, the level of work increases as the children move into Key Stage 2.
The children have less ‘down time’, lessons are timetabled throughout the day – morning break and lunch break are both 5 minutes shorter and there is no afternoon break.
The actual level of work should be a continuation from the end of Year 2, there won’t suddenly be a huge jump, but they may struggle a bit due to the length and intensity of lessons
Lessons

3. As the expectations of the curriculum increase, we also have higher expectations in terms of the children’s behaviour
As previously mentioned, lessons are slightly longer and we expect the children to concentrate throughout the lesson and then to relax and chat to their friends at break times.
Most children find the increased expectations in behaviour more difficult to get used to than the level of work!
Classes are larger in Key Stage 2. As such, the teacher, and any teaching assistants in the classroom, have less time to dedicate to each individual pupil. If a child is struggling with a particular piece of work, they will need to learn to ask for help from an adult.
Behaviour

4. They will have maths work set each week which will reflect the work they have been doing in the class that week.
The children are also expected to practise their times tables regularly at home. The expectation is that all children in Year 3 will be fluent in their 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 times tables by the end of the year.
They will also be asked to complete a topic based homework. This is similar to the Topic tasks they will have been used to completing during Year 2. They will have a scrap book in which they can present their topic work, or they can choose an activity which may be presented outside of the scrap book (e.g. a poster, a model, a computer presentation)
Home Learning

5. The children in Y3/4 will be given their own pencil case with all the equipment they will need for lessons. This will be labelled with their name. It is the child's responsibility to look after their pencil case. We do not allow pens/pencil/rubbers etc from home as they will not be needed and they can cause problems within the class.
This also applies for their own property, such as coats, bags, lunch boxes. Each child will have a named peg and a labelled trolley for their coats and lunch boxes etc.
It is their responsibility to look after their things.
It is the children's responsibility to make sure that they hand in completed home learning on the day it is due. Teachers and teaching assistants will not be going through bags to find them, although we will remind the children regularly.
Responsibility

6. This approach to learning will be continued to be used in Year 3/4 as it has been seen to extend and improve children's ability in 'talk for learning'.
Talking and listening to different members of class widens the children's social network, helps the children improve on polite and productive conversation. It also extends children's vocabulary - whether they are learning from or explaining their ideas to other children.
Learning Partners

7. Children will only bring home a weekly reading book if they are reading at White Book Band or below. Once they are reading at a Year 3 level (Lime Book Band) , we believe that they are capable of choosing a book of a suitable level for themselves, either from the school library, or from their books at home.
The children will use the school library weekly and pick a book that interests them to read in school and at home. This will be scan out of the library using our ‘Junior Librarian’ programme. They do not have to bring the book home if they choose not to.
The children will bring home a list of spelling words from the National Curriculum that they will be expected to learn. It is very important that the words are learned the small half termly chunks that they are given out in, as there are 100 words on Year 3/4 list altogether and this is too many to learn all in one go! Before trying to spell these words with your child, please check that they can read them fluently first.
Reading and Spelling

8. Start and End of the Day Arrangements
The children in Y3 and 4 enter and leave school through the white doors at the end of the Y3/4 corridor.
As in previous years, parents are asked not to seek unplanned meetings with the teachers during this period the teachers will be very busy welcoming/dismissing the children.
However, if you do need to speak to your child's class teacher, please book an appointment at the office or the teacher/team leader and this will be dealt with promptly.
Children in Year 3 are not allowed to walk home unaccompanied. We expect them to be collected by an adult at the end of the school day.
Start and End of the Day Arrangements

9. The children are asked to have a school P. E
The children are asked to have a school P.E. kit in school at all times. Each class will be given specific P.E. days, however, occasionally this needs to be changed and children are often asked to change into their P.E. kits for the Golden Mile.
Physical Education

10. Naturally we do not expect the children to be working throughout their summer holidays, however, its is very important that they do not completely leave their studies behind.
Regular reading and maths work (particularly thoroughly knowing their tables) would be expected so that the children can start September in the best possible position to continue their learning.
We will be sending out next terms letters before the end of this term so you will know what the topic is we will be covering - you may be keen to explore this during the holidays.
During Jump up Week, while your children are visiting their new classes, they will be given a Summer Holiday Home Learning Challenge. This will have a range of suggested activities that will help to support their learning in various subjects over this time. Hopefully they will be fun for them to have a go at as well!
Summer Holidays

11. Any Questions?