Year 3
Welcome to Year 3 2026-2027.
Enrichment for Autumn 1
Geography Parent Workshop: Climate and Weather
As part of our Geography unit on Climate and Weather, we will be hosting a parent workshop in school.
The purpose of this workshop is to give parents an insight into their children's learning and to provide an opportunity for parents and children to work collaboratively together. During the session, children will be making a weathervane and a rain gauge to support their learning throughout the unit.
To help with this activity, please ensure that your child brings a clean, empty 2-litre plastic bottle to school by Monday 6th September, which will be used to make a rain gauge. All other resources, including those needed to make the weathervane, will be provided by the school.
Science Entry Point: Light and Shadows
To launch our exciting Science unit on Light and Shadows, the children will take part in a full day of hands-on investigations and activities.
Throughout the day, they will explore the importance of light in our everyday lives, discover how shadows are formed and change, and investigate different sources of light. The children will also learn about the Sun as our main source of natural light and discuss how we can keep ourselves safe in sunny weather by protecting our skin and eyes.
This engaging entry point will spark curiosity, encourage scientific thinking, and provide a memorable start to our learning journey on light and shadows
General information
Reading at Home
Please ensure that your child brings their book bag and reading a diary to school every day. We ask that you read regularly with your child and record this in their reading diary by signing it.
Children are expected to complete an Accelerated Reader (AR) quiz on their reading book once they have finished it. We understand that chapter books can take longer to read, so we recommend that children who are working through a longer AR book also choose a shorter book. This allows them to continue reading regularly and complete quizzes more frequently, helping to maintain their progress and confidence as readers.
You can monitor your child’s reading progress using their Accelerated Reader login details, which will be sent home in a separate letter.
Children will visit the school library regularly to select and change their reading-for-pleasure books. These books should be kept in their classroom trays and enjoyed during the school day.
We also encourage families to make use of their local library, where children can explore a wide range of authors, genres and texts, helping to foster a lifelong love of reading
SPELLING
Weekly spellings and a spelling homework sheet will be sent home every Friday. Children will take part in three spelling lessons each week and, although we do not formally test spellings, we expect children to practice them regularly at home to help secure their understanding and application.
Each child will receive a spelling book with their weekly spellings stuck inside. This book should be used to practice writing spellings at home. The weekly spellings will also be available on EdShed, where children can revise and consolidate their learning through a variety of interactive online games and activities. This will be checked by the class teacher every Sunday and children will be rewarded with house points for each day they use EdShed. Spelling badges will be awarded as follows: Bronze badge for 50 days, Silver for 100 days, Gold for 150 days.
The spelling homework sheet and green spelling book should be returned to school by the following Friday. We expect to see evidence that the spellings have been practiced in the green book.
If homework is not completed and returned on time, children will be expected to complete it during Friday breaktime.
Thank you for your support in helping your child develop confidence and accuracy in their spelling.
TIMES TABLES AND TTRS
The children will receive a times table diary whereby they can practice their times tables in a written format. They will also receive a TTRS (Times Tables Rock Stars) log in that they can use at both school and home. It is a fun online resource, where children can learn and be quizzed on the times tables. We ask that the children spend 10 minutes a day on times tables and we will be checking this weekly.
KIRFS
Why we are using KIRFs across our school:
At OLMC, we are committed to helping every child build strong foundations in mathematics. One of the ways we are doing this is by replacing Rapid Recall and introducing KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts) as a whole-school strategy.
What are KIRFs?
KIRFs are carefully selected number facts that children are expected to learn and recall instantly. These include facts such as number bonds, times tables, doubles and halves, and place value knowledge. They are designed to support children’s mental maths and fluency.
Why are KIRFs important?
-
Build Confidence: When children can recall key facts quickly, they feel more confident about tackling more complex problems.
-
Support Reasoning: Quick recall frees up working memory, allowing children to focus on problem-solving and reasoning.
-
Consistency Across Year Groups: A whole-school approach ensures progression and consistency, helping children build on prior knowledge year after year.
-
Preparation for Future Learning: KIRFs lay the groundwork for success in upper Key Stage 2 and beyond, including SATs and secondary school maths.
How will it work?
Each half term, children will focus on a specific set of KIRFs appropriate to their year group. These will be practised in school and shared with families to support learning at home. Regular practice helps embed these facts into long-term memory.
How can you help at home?
We’ll provide simple activities and games to make practising KIRFs fun and engaging. Just a few minutes a day can make a big difference!
PE DAYS
PE will be on a Wednesday and Thursday and will begin week beginning Monday 7th September 2026. Children must come in PE kit, wearing no jewellery and long hair must be tied back.
SWIMMING LESSONS
You will have received a letter with details about your child’s swimming lessons, which can be paid for via ParentPay.
During the Autumn Term, Year 3 pupils will take part in swimming lessons on Mondays. For those children attending swimming, this session will replace their usual Thursday PE lesson. Therefore, children should come to school in their PE kit on Mondays (swimming day) and Wednesdays (their additional PE day).
As only one class attends swimming at a time, the class that is not swimming will continue with their regular PE lessons on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
3W Swimming Dates
14th September
21st September
28th September
5th October
12th October
19th October
3GB Swimming Dates
2nd November
9th November
16th November
23rd November
30th November
7th December
Swimming Kit
Please ensure your child brings the following items in a suitable swimming bag, sports bag or backpack:
Swimming costume or swimming trunks/shorts
Towel
Swimming hat (optional)
Goggles (optional)
Hairbrush (if required)
We recommend that children with long hair tie it back for swimming lessons. Please do not send soap, shampoo, or any other toiletries into school.
Thank you for your support in helping to ensure that all children are prepared and ready to enjoy their swimming lessons.
Prayer bags and Science bags
Prayer bags and Science bags will be given out every Friday. We hope that they are completed and returned by the following Friday so another child can then take them home.
THRIVE
Each year group has a calm area where children can take time out to regulate their emotions. The children are taught strategies and given tools to help and support them. Please follow the link to our Thrive page to find out more.
https://www.olmc.magnificat.org.uk/our-school/thrive
LETTERS:
Year 3 Curriculum
| Document Title |
|---|
| Curriculum Evening 2026 |