Welcome to Year 3

Year 3 is an exciting step as children move into Key Stage 2 and begin to develop greater independence in their learning. Building on the foundations established in Key Stage 1, we encourage pupils to become curious, resilient, and confident learners who enjoy exploring new ideas and challenges.

We continue to strengthen skills in reading, writing, and mathematics through engaging lessons, high-quality texts, practical investigations, and collaborative learning opportunities. Children develop their reasoning and problem-solving skills, think critically, and learn how to apply their knowledge across the curriculum.

Our curriculum includes:

English, where children explore exciting texts and write a range of narratives, reports, letters, diaries, leaflets, and newspaper articles. Whilst focusing on spelling patterns and punctuation and grammar objectives.
Mathematics, developing confidence with place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, geometry, statistics, and measurement. Children also build fluency in key times tables and number facts.
Science investigations, exploring forces and magnets, rocks, light, animals including humans, plants, and sustainability through an eco-project.
History, studying the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, discovering why the Romans settled in Britain, and learning about the beliefs and achievements of Ancient Egypt.
Geography, investigating South Wales, comparing regions of Europe through a study of Naples and Campania in Italy, and exploring modern Egypt.
Art and Design, developing skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, and craft work inspired by prehistoric Britain and Ancient Egypt.
Design and Technology, creating Stone Age jewellery, preparing food products, and designing Roman sandals.
Music, learning about pitch, tempo, improvisation, composition, ballads, and jazz while developing performance skills.
Computing, exploring computer networks, learning how computers work, creating digital media, programming with Scratch, and developing online safety awareness.
Religious Education, deepening understanding of Scripture through topics including Creation and Covenant, Galilee to Jerusalem, Desert to Garden, and Dialogue and Encounter.
Physical Education, developing teamwork, coordination, fitness, and sports skills through gymnastics, basketball, football, athletics, tennis, rounders, dance, and outdoor games.
Italian, where children begin to learn conversational language through topics such as colours, numbers, transport, musical instruments, fruits, and animals.

Living Our Catholic Faith:

Faith is at the heart of life in Year 3 and in our school community. We begin and end each day with prayer and encourage children to live out Gospel values through kindness, respect, compassion, and service to others. Throughout the year, children explore the Jesuit virtues of being Curious and Active, Intentional and Prophetic, Grateful and Generous, Attentive and Discerning, Compassionate and Loving, and Faith-filled and Hopeful.

In Religious Education, children deepen their understanding of God's plan through topics such as Creation and Covenant, Prophecy and Promise, Galilee to Jerusalem, Desert to Garden, Ends of the Earth, and Dialogue and Encounter. They learn more about Scripture, develop their knowledge of the Catholic faith, and reflect on how they can follow Jesus' example in their daily lives.

A significant part of the Year 3 journey is preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Through prayer and reflection, children deepen their understanding of the gift of forgiveness and the commitment involved in living out their faith.

A Message from the Year 3 Teachers:

"Welcome to Year 3! This is an exciting year as children begin their Key Stage 2 journey and take on new opportunities and challenges. We aim to inspire every child to become an independent, enthusiastic learner who enjoys discovering new things and trying their very best. Through a rich and engaging curriculum, strong partnerships with families, and our shared Catholic values, we will support children to grow in confidence, faith, and achievement. We look forward to a wonderful year of learning, exploration, and success together."

Mr Worthington, Mrs Collins and Mrs Donaghue.

How Parents Can Support at Home:

Your support makes a huge difference to your child’s learning. Here are some ways to help your child succeed in Year 3:

Read together regularly and discuss new vocabulary, characters, and events in books.
Practise times tables and number facts little and often to build confidence and fluency.
Support spelling practice and encourage the use of new words in everyday writing.
Encourage writing at home through letters, stories, diary entries, postcards, or fact files.
Talk about learning and ask your child to explain what they have been studying in school.
Explore the world together by visiting local places, discussing current events, and noticing geography, history, and nature around you.
Celebrate effort and resilience by praising perseverance, independence, and a positive attitude to learning.
Share and nurture faith at home through prayer, exploring the prayer bag, attending Mass, discussing Gospel values, and talking about what your child has learned in Religious Education.

Together, we can help every child have a successful, rewarding, and faith-filled Year 3 experience.