Year 3 2026 - 2027

Welcome to Year 3 Autumn 1 Term! 2026-2027  ☺️

The teachers in Year 3 are Miss Rothwell (3R) and Miss Morris (3M). The teaching assistants are Miss Almeida, Miss Nicolae and Miss Smith. We are looking forward to welcoming you back to school after the holidays and hope you are excited for all you will learn in Year 3 this term!

What will we be learning this half-term?

English

In English this half term, we will begin by revisiting important writing skills from Year 2. We will then use Orion and the Dark to write an exciting journal entry from Orion’s perspective, focusing on expanded noun phrases, prepositions, conjunctions and paragraphs. Using The Wild Robot, we will design our own helpful robot and write a clear explanation text about what it does and how it works. Finally, we will explore shape poetry, using descriptive vocabulary, word play and figurative language to create and perform our own poems inspired by the island fire.

Maths

We will begin by deepening their understanding of place value and working confidently with numbers up to 1,000. They will then progress to addition and subtraction, using the column method to solve problems accurately. These lessons will help develop their fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in preparation for more complex mathematical challenges.

Reading

In our reading lessons, children will be following a reading fluency scheme designed to develop their confidence, accuracy and understanding. Children will be grouped across the Year 3 and 4 phase so that teaching and texts are carefully matched to their current reading level. They will explore a mixture of engaging fiction and non-fiction texts, develop their understanding of new vocabulary using their phonics knowledge, and answer a range of comprehension questions to deepen their understanding of what they have read.

Science

Children will explore forces and magnets, learning how objects move and interact. They will investigate pushing and pulling forces, the effects of friction, and how magnets attract or repel different materials. These lessons will help pupils develop their scientific enquiry skills through hands-on experiments and observations.

Geography

We will learn why climate is important and explore local temperate rainforests in the UK. Children will discover how different climates, including polar, hot/dry, and hot/wet regions, shape our world, and develop an understanding of weather, climate, and biomes, including their own local area.

Art

In Art this half term, we will explore Stone Age cave drawings and investigate how ancient people created art. We will experiment with different drawing materials and surfaces, learn how to create texture using hatching, cross-hatching and stippling, and develop our use of tone through blending and rubbing. We will use these skills to create our own individual cave drawings before working together to produce a whole-class cave artwork.  

Spanish

Children will learn how to greet others in Spanish and introduce themselves politely. They will practise saying simple phrases, asking and answering questions, and using basic conversational language. These lessons will help pupils develop confidence in speaking and listening in a new language. 

Reading at Home

Children will be given a reading book to take home. Books should be returned once read, with a comment in the Reading Record. We ask that children read to an adult at least three times a week. Reading records will be checked weekly.

P.E.

P.E. lessons take place on Tuesdays for 3R and 3M.  Please send your child to school in their P.E. kit on these days. The P.E. kit should include a white top, black trousers/shorts/leggings, and appropriate trainers.

Chess

Year 3 children will take part in Chess lessons. This term, it’s 3R’s turn to take part in weekly sessions, building strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

Homework

At the start of each half term, children will receive a homework log containing six activities linked to learning across the curriculum. Each week, children should choose one activity to complete in their homework book. Homework books will be handed out every Friday and should be returned by the following Thursday so they can be marked and handed back out on Friday.

Spellings

Children will be set spellings each week. These will be set every Monday and must be practised during the week, ready for our spelling test on Friday.

Times Tables

By the end of Year 3, children should be able to recall their 3. 4 and 8 times tables confidently. We will practise regularly in school but it is crucial that children are practising their times tables at home daily for rapid recall. To support them with this, please make sure your child is regularly practising on Times Table Rockstars.

Best Wishes, 

Miss Rothwell & Miss Morris

If you have any questions or need any help or support, please come and speak to us at the end of the day or email at the following class email addresses.

Miss Rothwell – 3R

Miss Morris – 3M

3r@ashburymeadow.manchester.sch.uk

3m@ashburymeadow.manchester.sch.uk