Autumn Term 2026

Welcome 

Welcome to Year 3 and the start of your Key Stage 2 journey. We are looking forward to working with your children to consolidate and develop the skills and knowledge your children have learnt in Key Stage 1 

This newsletter provides an overview of the Year 3 curriculum plans for the Autumn Term. 

Reading / Phonics 

Guided reading is taught on four days each week using both fiction and non-fiction texts. We are currently reading The Diary of a Killer Cat by Anne Fine. The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber and an author study of Anthony Browne will follow this novel. 

Please continue to hear your child read at home. Afterwards, ask some 'how' or 'why' questions to support their understanding. Once your child becomes a fluent reader, encourage discussion about why the author has chosen particular words, phrases, or sentences and the effect these have on the reader. There are some guidance notes in the back pages of the newer reading scheme books, which you may find helpful. 

Phonics will continue to be taught for those children who need to consolidate their knowledge and understanding from Key Stage 1. 

Please ensure that your child brings their home reading book into school every day. 

Writing 

The writing curriculum for each half term is based on both a fiction (narrative) and a non-fiction text. We will be studying a traditional tale with a twist, Little Red, before writing our own narratives. The children will then study non-chronological reports and write an animal report before half term. After half term, the writing cycle will be repeated with a different narrative focus. Our emphasis will be on writing sentences using conjunctions and ensuring that our sentences are accurately punctuated. 

Spellings 

We teach three spelling lessons each week, focusing on Year 3 spelling patterns using our 'Essentials for Spelling scheme. A short spelling list, related either to the weekly objective or your child's individual spelling targets, will be sent home each Friday. It is important that these spellings are practised at home, as they support and reinforce learning in class. 

Please see spellings in the link below.

Handwriting 

As we move into Key Stage 2, we start to introduce joined-up handwriting to our children. The children will be taught the correct joins to begin to develop this important skill that will help with writing in a fluent and legible style of handwriting. 

Maths  

This first half term's work focuses on place value and shape. In the second half term, the children will cover addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. 

Each week we will revisit number objectives, to consolidate key mathematical skills. This will focus on consolidating multiplication and division facts for 2s, 5s and 10s (revised from Year 2), as well as 3s, 4s and 8s. 

Science 

This term's science unit is about animals, including humans. In this unit, the children will learn about food groups, their skeletons, and how to keep healthy. After half term, we will be exploring light and the formation of shadows. 

All foundation subjects being covered during the term  

Geography – our learning will focus on food and fairtrade as we discover where in the World our food comes from. We will also look at fairtrade products and consider why we should buy local produce. 

In art, to link to our food topic, we will be using our observational skills to draw fruit and vegetables. 

Design and technology will see us chopping, cutting and preparing a seasonal soup to eat. 

In computing, we will be focusing on online safety as well as stop frame animations. 

Our PSHE focus will be on ‘Being me in my world’ and ‘Celebrating Differences’ 

In RE, we will study Christianity in the first half term considering the question ‘What might Christians learn from the Old Testament about how to live?’ and in the following half term we will be studying Islam through the question ‘ Why is Mohammad important to Muslims today?’ 

Music will cover the genre of call and response through ‘I’ve been to Harlem.’ 

As we are now in Key Stage 2, we will start to learn French. Our first learning will include learning the names of colours and counting to 10 once we have located where France is in Europe. 

Knowledge Organisers 

Please find Knowledge Organisers for Maths, Science and Geography for this term in the links below.  

PE  

PE for 3OF is on Tuesday and Friday, and PE for 3P is on Tuesday and Thursday. 

As the weather changes, please ensure that your child comes to school wearing suitable clothing for PE. This should include a white polo shirt, black PE shorts, black jogging bottoms, or plain black leggings (no patterns). On rainy days, please ensure they have waterproof clothing and wellies, as they will be encouraged to remain outside during break times. 

Homework  

Please ensure that your child practises their multiplication and division facts for 2s, 5s and 10s (revised from Year 2), as well as 3s, 4s and 8s, using TTRockstars. The username and password can be found on the inside front cover of your child's home reading record. 

A short maths task will be sent home each Friday for homework and will be marked in school on Wednesday. 

Spellings will need to be practised each week, list sent home on a Friday. 

Please continue to hear your child read. Please ensure your child’s reading record is filled in at least 4 times a week and signed by an adult.   

 

Thank you in advance for supporting your child in their learning this term. If you do have any questions about the curriculum, please do come and speak to us at the end of the school day or contact us by email using dunalley@dunalley.gloucs.sch.uk 

 

Knowledge Organisers

Spellings