Friday 4^th September 2026

Dear Parents and Carers of Year 3,

Re: Y3 Curriculum Letter – Autumn 1: Stones and Bones

Welcome to Year 3!

Our topic this term is ‘Stones and Bones’, where the children will be learning about pre-history, including the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. We will have the opportunity to investigate artefacts up close at the Horniman Museum! In English we are reading ‘Stone Age Boy’ and innovating a version of the story. In Maths we will be learning about number and place value, recognising the value of each digit in a 3-digit number. RE will cover the topic of Buddhism. The Science topic this half term is ‘Animals and Humans’, learning about the function of the skeleton, and how to maintain a healthy body through a balanced diet and exercise. Our Art will link with our history topic to design and sculpt a Skara Brae-style clay pot.
To launch our topic this term we have an exciting trip planned at Horniman Museum on Monday 14^th September, please see the separate letter sent here.

P.E. Lessons

On PE days, your child will be wearing their PE kits all day so please ensure they have the appropriate kit (white T-shirt, grey/black bottoms and their red school jumper), including trainers/plimsols.

Year 3 will have PE every Wednesday and an additional PE lesson on PPA days every other week on Tuesdays. These dates are: Tuesday 8^th September, Tuesday 22^nd September, Tuesday 6^th October and Tuesday 20^th October 2026.

Uniform

Encourage your child to wear full school uniform and ensure they have a coat appropriate for the weather. It is important that your child does not wear jewellery (unless it is for religious reasons) apart from stud earrings. Please ensure their coats and jumpers are labelled with their names. This helps us reunite misplaced items with their owners.

Home Learning:

Daily Reading

Children will choose a book to take home each week. They can also read books they already have at home or from their local library. Reading is essential to help your child make progress in all areas of the curriculum. We would like children to read at home each day. It is best for an adult to check how they’re getting on, either by listening to them read or by asking them questions to check their understanding. This will help your child make progress with their reading. Please do make a note in their reading journals if possible. It makes us aware of how much and how well they’re reading and what they’re enjoying.  Please put the reading journal back into their book bag after writing in it as it is handy to have them in school each day.

Books will be changed on Fridays.

Maths

In Year 3, children will learn the 3,4 and 8 timetables in addition to those learnt in KS1 (x2, x5 & x10).  Try using cards or games to randomly select times tables, drawing groups of items to make groups, counting in groups e.g. counting in 3s – 3, 6, 9, etc and practising online using websites such as https://www.timestables.co.uk/ . Additionally, we will set weekly tasks using Mathletics. We will let the children know when we start this and send home login details.

Topic Home Learning Project: Topic Home Learning Projects start in Autumn 2, after half term.  Each project will be linked to learning from the previous term to give children a chance to revisit and build upon prior learning.

Important Dates:

Parents’ Evening will be held during the week beginning 12^th October 2026. Further details will follow from school nearer the time.

Other information:

Please ensure your child brings a filled and labelled water bottle to school each day.
A reminder that children should not bring in toys from home as these can get lost or broken.

As the weather becomes colder, please ensure your child has a warm coat and that all hats, scarves and gloves are named. It is important that your child does not wear jewellery (unless it is for religious reasons) apart from stud earrings.

Below this letter, you will find a mind map which shows the learning that we will be doing this term.

Thank you and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Mrs Nandhra-Calow, Miss Saglam & Ms Whyte

Year 3 Team