Welcome to Year 3!

Thank you all for coming this morning Thank you all for coming this morning. The aim is to give you more information about Year 3 and any differences in Key Stage Two, and to answer any questions you might have.

Staffing Miss Smith – Class teacher Mrs Slater – All mornings and Tuesday afternoon (PPA) Mrs Tate – All day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and Friday morning Mr Elford – All afternoons Mrs Irwin – Thursday afternoon Mrs Willdig – Friday afternoon

Other staff Mrs Massey – Tuesday pm (Music)

Timetable Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:40 – 9:00   Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:40 – 9:00 Challenging and reasoning Challenge and reasoning 9:00 – 9:15 Whole school assembly Spellings Handwriting Celebration assembly AM 1: 9:15 – 10:35 Spelling test / English Book Club English 10:35 – 11:00 Break time AM 2: 11:00 – 12:00 Maths French 12:00 – 13:15 Lunch time 13:15 – 15:30 Dance Art (PPA) Computing PE History Science RE (PPA) Music PSHE

Morning routine The children have settled really well and have shown how organised they can be coming in quickly and being ready for learn. When the children arrive they have a challenge or reasoning activity to complete. This encourages them to apply previously learnt skills or knowledge to different problems.

Topics and accompanying books Autumn One – Stone Age : Stone Age Boy by Satoshi Kitamura / Ug by Raymond Briggs Autumn Two – Volcanoes and Earthquakes – Vacation under the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne Spring One – Ancient Greeks – Greek Myths and Legends Spring Two – Litter in Holmes Chapel – Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel Summer One – History of Farming – Sheep Pig by Dick King-Smith Summer Two – Local Farming – Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl

Phonics A main change in year 3 is a shift in focus from phonics to spelling patterns. Although phonics is no longer taught as a block session, we will continue to embed, use and revise phonic sounds throughout the year to support spelling and reading in a fun, multisensory way.

PE In Year 3, we have Dance on a Monday afternoon and outdoor PE on a Thursday Morning. If possible, can PE kits remain in school during the week in case changes occur with the timetable. Children will need suitable outdoor clothes and shoes. Long hair needs to be tied back.

Snack In Year 3, children are no longer able to access free fruit. The children are able to purchase snack with any money they bring in at breaktime. This money must be kept in their drawer. Children are of course able to bring in a snack from home, as long as it is healthy.

Rewards Merits Just like in year 2, the children are still in their colour teams and collect merits. Class Points When children receive 20 class points they will get a class reward! The premise of this system is for the children to have to work together as a class, focussing on whole-class targets (all ready to learn etc). Hermitage Heroes Regular Hermitage heroes assemblies.

Homework Reading Book club will happen on a Tuesday morning. Each week, there will be a focussed activity with a member of staff. During Book Club children will be carrying out an independent activity when they are not reading in a group. Please remind your child to bring their reading book into school daily. The children will be reading a school scheme reading book. Small chapter books are ideal, if appropriate for your child.

Homework Maths Every Friday. This will be a MyMaths activity online or a paper based activity linked to Maths learning in school. Termly Project One per term, linked to the topic focus (Eg. Stone Age). This allows children to develop their creativity and strengths. Guidelines will be given along with a range of presentation options.

Spellings Every Tuesday. These will be based upon the spelling rules so please do not be alarmed! Spellings will be for the children to practice and apply these spelling rules. Spelling tests will be delivered in the same way to last year with children being tested on 20 unfamiliar words and requiring to practice 5 which they got incorrect. We are awarding merits to children who improved their score by 5 or more in the next test. Spellings will be tested on Monday and given on Tuesday. We appreciate your support at home in practicing these.

Residential We will be going on residential to Tattenhall outside Chester in May. It will be for two days and one night. There will be more information about this in the new year. The children will love it and it is not something to worry about!

Keeping informed As always, the class webpage will be kept updated with any information. Any messages delivered to the office will of course be passed on. I am also available after school if you wish to discuss anything face to face.

Any questions? Thank you all for coming and for the involvement you have with your child’s education.