Year 3 at Heron Hill School
Left to Right: Mrs Corbett, Mrs Osborne, Mrs Quilliam, Mrs Dodd-Hemingway, Miss Dawson.
Dear Parents and Carers
We are delighted that your child is in Year 3 at Heron Hill School. We aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to develop children’s self-esteem, independence and enthusiastic learning.
Year 3 Staff
Mrs Corbett (class teacher)
Miss Dawson (class teacher)
Mrs Osborne (Planning, Preparation and Assessment - PPA)
Mrs Dodd-Hemingway (PPA)
Mrs Quilliam (teaching assistant)
Mr Westwell (teaching assistant – swimming lessons)
Morning Routine
Please arrive in the playground 8.45 am at the earliest!
Staff will appear and children need to line up in classes at the end of the playground. Parents, please stand back and allow children to be independent. Say goodbye and watch them line up from a distance. Some children are understandably worried at first but they quickly adapt to new routines. Please make sure any that payments (visits, donations etc) which you send in with your child are in a labelled envelope.
At the End of the Day
Children will leave from their external classroom doors with their belongings from the cloakroom and will meet parents/carers on the yard. Please do not come into cloakrooms, they are already very congested. Please talk at home with your child about being tidy, returning their PE kit to their PE bag and hanging up coats on their peg. We do expect that all children in Year 3 are collected by an adult and do not walk home on their own. Please let us know if someone other than you is collecting your child.
Uniform
A full description of the school uniform is on the school website. Sweatshirts and cardigans, costing £9.00 each, are available to buy from the school office, as are bookbags, £4.50 and PE bags, £4.00. Please ensure your child has a bookbag from the start of the year.
PE Kits
All clothing and the bag they are in need to be labelled. Please remind children to look after their belongings. Full PE kits are required Wednesday and Thursday.
Swimming
Swimming lessons are on Wednesdays for one term; Y3C in the autumn term, Y3D in the spring term.
Please provide a colourful towel. A full costume is required for girls and swimming trunks (not baggy shorts) for boys: please make sure the children know which way round they go. We will need helpers please but remember, if helping, we like to give you a poolside group and only parents with a DBS check and with class teacher’s support can go into changing rooms; this is to safeguard your child. (If helpers come regularly, we will pay for DBS checks.)
Earrings
These should be removed for school in line with school and Cumbria County Council policy. Children who are unable to take earrings out will be unable to swim or take part in PE; please help us to avoid this situation occurring by remembering to remove earrings on the morning of PE days.
Meeting with Staff
If you want to speak to a member of staff please use the main entrance, not the side entrances, as we need to know who is in the building in order to keep your child safe.
Lunch Boxes
These should be stacked on the shelf by the children as they arrive in the cloakroom. In warm weather please place a cool pack in your child’s lunch box. Please ensure the lunch box is labelled.
Morning Snack
Children in Year 3 do not get free fruit so you may like to provide your child with a healthy snack, preferably fruit, vegetables or cheese. These should be taken into class at the beginning of the day so that children are not tempted to raid lunchboxes at break time. No sugary snacks please.
Water
Please provide your child with a named water bottle. Research supports the need for water to refresh the brain. No juice please.
Milk
School milk is available on a daily basis at a cost of approximately 23p per day. If your child is not already registered in this scheme and would like to have milk please ask the office for further details.
Communication
Many things will be a little different from Year 2, but many things are the same. Please let us know of any concerns or successes that happen by talking to a member of staff. Children are sometimes asked to relay messages and they do not always get them right. If you are unsure please ask.
Please inform the school, by telephone or e-mail before 9.30 am, if your child is unwell and will be absent. If you take your child out of school for medical or dental appointments, please provide evidence (show the office staff the text or letter), if available. If you are taking your child out of school for a holiday, please give the Headteacher at least 4 weeks’ notice if possible; work will be provided for your child to complete during their absence.
School Meals
Meals should be ordered on-line by 9.30 am on the day and can be booked up to 3 weeks in advance. Our school kitchen prepares the delicious hot meals on site, providing 3 meal choices each day, including a vegetarian option. Universal Infant Free School Meals funding ends at the end of Year 2, so school meals will cost £2.50 per day. Please remember to cancel your child’s school meal by 9.30 am if they are unwell or you will be charged for the meal. Contact the school office if you have lost or forgotten your log-in details or if you think you may be eligible for free school meals due to income or other reasons.
Reading
In school children will receive weekly reading comprehension sessions. They will also be given individual reading books from the Accelerated Reader scheme to read independently and to share with parents/carers. Children are taught the library system which involves them having an individual bar code. Please understand that whilst we try our best to do this quickly it does take time and your child will get a book but it may not be on day one. The expectation in Year 3 is that your child will read school books 4 times at home each week. In their home/school books, children record the date, name of the book, the number of pages read and write a short comment about their reading. They can, of course, also record any reading of home books they have completed in addition to their Accelerated Reader books. We ask that parents/carers initial what they have recorded and sign the page on a weekly basis. We encourage the children to be independent in changing their books regularly; please help by reminding them to do so. Children requiring additional support will also read individually in school.
Spellings and High Frequency Words
A few spellings will be put into home-school spelling books weekly. Please help your child to learn these (see the spelling resources on our website). They will be given a weekly test on the words sent home.
We would be grateful if you could work with your child on the following homophones and high frequency words at home.
Year 3 Words
accident(ally) actual(ly) address answer arrive believe bicycle centre century circle decide describe early earth eight/eighth enough February forward(s) fruit heard heart height history learn length library minute naughty notice occasion(ally) often perhaps popular potatoes promise purpose quarter question reign sentence strange thought through weight woman/women
300 High Frequency Words
I Mr Mrs I’ll I’m I’ve the and a to said in he of it was you they on she
is for at his but that with all we can are up had my her what there out
this have went be like some so not then were go little as no mum one them
do me down dad big when it’s see very look don’t come will into back from him
get just now came oh about got their people your put could house old too by
day made time if help called here off asked saw make an water away good want
over how did man going where would or took school think home who didn’t ran
know bear can’t again cat long things new after wanted eat our two has yes play
take dog well find more round tree magic us other food fox way been stop must
red door right sea these began boy never next first work lots need that’s baby
fish gave mouse bed may still found live say soon night small car three head king
town around every garden fast only many let’s much told another great why cried
keep room last jumped because even am before gran clothes tell key fun place
mother sat boat window sleep feet queen each book its green let girl which inside
run any under hat snow air trees bad tea top eyes fell friends box dark end than
best better hot sun ever miss most cold park lived birds duck wish eggs once
across looked narrator thought through morning different suddenly something everyone
grandad animals laughed couldn’t there’s looking children shouted gone hard floppy
really please thing stopped horse rabbit white coming he’s liked giant looks use along
plants dragon pulled we’re fly grow wind river like old wanted still sleep across
Homophones
See the button at the bottom of this page for frequently occurring homophones (words which sound like other words).
Home Learning
A creative home learning task will be sent home fortnightly, please check your child’s bookbag. In Year 3, your child will be given a Home Learning Book. Each child will select a word from a lucky-dip, on which they are to base their task. This can be completed in a variety of ways, for example: poems, stories, illustrations, internet research, craft, collage, photographs, reports of visits etc. We will explain to the children how to approach this work creatively. We expect the children to make their choices about what they want to do, however they will need support from you to complete their task. When they are given a home learning task, they will have a week to complete it. In addition, children will be given weekly maths challenges related to their learning.
Learn Its
‘Learn Its’ are addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts that children need to know by heart and be able to recall instantly. Your child should be able to tell you which ‘Learn Its’ they are working on so that you can support at home with these.
Parent Consultation Evenings
To keep parents well informed of children’s progress, we will send home termly attainment and attitude to learning reports. These will be followed by parent consultation meetings to discuss the reports; the meetings will take place in November, March and July. If you have any concerns or issues about your child at any time, staff are always willing to meet with you. If this is not possible immediately, please telephone and make an appointment.
We are delighted that your child is in Year 3 at Heron Hill School. We aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to develop children’s self-esteem, independence and enthusiastic learning.
Year 3 Staff
Mrs Corbett (class teacher)
Miss Dawson (class teacher)
Mrs Osborne (Planning, Preparation and Assessment - PPA)
Mrs Dodd-Hemingway (PPA)
Mrs Quilliam (teaching assistant)
Mr Westwell (teaching assistant – swimming lessons)
Morning Routine
Please arrive in the playground 8.45 am at the earliest!
Staff will appear and children need to line up in classes at the end of the playground. Parents, please stand back and allow children to be independent. Say goodbye and watch them line up from a distance. Some children are understandably worried at first but they quickly adapt to new routines. Please make sure any that payments (visits, donations etc) which you send in with your child are in a labelled envelope.
At the End of the Day
Children will leave from their external classroom doors with their belongings from the cloakroom and will meet parents/carers on the yard. Please do not come into cloakrooms, they are already very congested. Please talk at home with your child about being tidy, returning their PE kit to their PE bag and hanging up coats on their peg. We do expect that all children in Year 3 are collected by an adult and do not walk home on their own. Please let us know if someone other than you is collecting your child.
Uniform
A full description of the school uniform is on the school website. Sweatshirts and cardigans, costing £9.00 each, are available to buy from the school office, as are bookbags, £4.50 and PE bags, £4.00. Please ensure your child has a bookbag from the start of the year.
PE Kits
All clothing and the bag they are in need to be labelled. Please remind children to look after their belongings. Full PE kits are required Wednesday and Thursday.
Swimming
Swimming lessons are on Wednesdays for one term; Y3C in the autumn term, Y3D in the spring term.
Please provide a colourful towel. A full costume is required for girls and swimming trunks (not baggy shorts) for boys: please make sure the children know which way round they go. We will need helpers please but remember, if helping, we like to give you a poolside group and only parents with a DBS check and with class teacher’s support can go into changing rooms; this is to safeguard your child. (If helpers come regularly, we will pay for DBS checks.)
Earrings
These should be removed for school in line with school and Cumbria County Council policy. Children who are unable to take earrings out will be unable to swim or take part in PE; please help us to avoid this situation occurring by remembering to remove earrings on the morning of PE days.
Meeting with Staff
If you want to speak to a member of staff please use the main entrance, not the side entrances, as we need to know who is in the building in order to keep your child safe.
Lunch Boxes
These should be stacked on the shelf by the children as they arrive in the cloakroom. In warm weather please place a cool pack in your child’s lunch box. Please ensure the lunch box is labelled.
Morning Snack
Children in Year 3 do not get free fruit so you may like to provide your child with a healthy snack, preferably fruit, vegetables or cheese. These should be taken into class at the beginning of the day so that children are not tempted to raid lunchboxes at break time. No sugary snacks please.
Water
Please provide your child with a named water bottle. Research supports the need for water to refresh the brain. No juice please.
Milk
School milk is available on a daily basis at a cost of approximately 23p per day. If your child is not already registered in this scheme and would like to have milk please ask the office for further details.
Communication
Many things will be a little different from Year 2, but many things are the same. Please let us know of any concerns or successes that happen by talking to a member of staff. Children are sometimes asked to relay messages and they do not always get them right. If you are unsure please ask.
Please inform the school, by telephone or e-mail before 9.30 am, if your child is unwell and will be absent. If you take your child out of school for medical or dental appointments, please provide evidence (show the office staff the text or letter), if available. If you are taking your child out of school for a holiday, please give the Headteacher at least 4 weeks’ notice if possible; work will be provided for your child to complete during their absence.
School Meals
Meals should be ordered on-line by 9.30 am on the day and can be booked up to 3 weeks in advance. Our school kitchen prepares the delicious hot meals on site, providing 3 meal choices each day, including a vegetarian option. Universal Infant Free School Meals funding ends at the end of Year 2, so school meals will cost £2.50 per day. Please remember to cancel your child’s school meal by 9.30 am if they are unwell or you will be charged for the meal. Contact the school office if you have lost or forgotten your log-in details or if you think you may be eligible for free school meals due to income or other reasons.
Reading
In school children will receive weekly reading comprehension sessions. They will also be given individual reading books from the Accelerated Reader scheme to read independently and to share with parents/carers. Children are taught the library system which involves them having an individual bar code. Please understand that whilst we try our best to do this quickly it does take time and your child will get a book but it may not be on day one. The expectation in Year 3 is that your child will read school books 4 times at home each week. In their home/school books, children record the date, name of the book, the number of pages read and write a short comment about their reading. They can, of course, also record any reading of home books they have completed in addition to their Accelerated Reader books. We ask that parents/carers initial what they have recorded and sign the page on a weekly basis. We encourage the children to be independent in changing their books regularly; please help by reminding them to do so. Children requiring additional support will also read individually in school.
Spellings and High Frequency Words
A few spellings will be put into home-school spelling books weekly. Please help your child to learn these (see the spelling resources on our website). They will be given a weekly test on the words sent home.
We would be grateful if you could work with your child on the following homophones and high frequency words at home.
Year 3 Words
accident(ally) actual(ly) address answer arrive believe bicycle centre century circle decide describe early earth eight/eighth enough February forward(s) fruit heard heart height history learn length library minute naughty notice occasion(ally) often perhaps popular potatoes promise purpose quarter question reign sentence strange thought through weight woman/women
300 High Frequency Words
I Mr Mrs I’ll I’m I’ve the and a to said in he of it was you they on she
is for at his but that with all we can are up had my her what there out
this have went be like some so not then were go little as no mum one them
do me down dad big when it’s see very look don’t come will into back from him
get just now came oh about got their people your put could house old too by
day made time if help called here off asked saw make an water away good want
over how did man going where would or took school think home who didn’t ran
know bear can’t again cat long things new after wanted eat our two has yes play
take dog well find more round tree magic us other food fox way been stop must
red door right sea these began boy never next first work lots need that’s baby
fish gave mouse bed may still found live say soon night small car three head king
town around every garden fast only many let’s much told another great why cried
keep room last jumped because even am before gran clothes tell key fun place
mother sat boat window sleep feet queen each book its green let girl which inside
run any under hat snow air trees bad tea top eyes fell friends box dark end than
best better hot sun ever miss most cold park lived birds duck wish eggs once
across looked narrator thought through morning different suddenly something everyone
grandad animals laughed couldn’t there’s looking children shouted gone hard floppy
really please thing stopped horse rabbit white coming he’s liked giant looks use along
plants dragon pulled we’re fly grow wind river like old wanted still sleep across
Homophones
See the button at the bottom of this page for frequently occurring homophones (words which sound like other words).
Home Learning
A creative home learning task will be sent home fortnightly, please check your child’s bookbag. In Year 3, your child will be given a Home Learning Book. Each child will select a word from a lucky-dip, on which they are to base their task. This can be completed in a variety of ways, for example: poems, stories, illustrations, internet research, craft, collage, photographs, reports of visits etc. We will explain to the children how to approach this work creatively. We expect the children to make their choices about what they want to do, however they will need support from you to complete their task. When they are given a home learning task, they will have a week to complete it. In addition, children will be given weekly maths challenges related to their learning.
Learn Its
‘Learn Its’ are addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts that children need to know by heart and be able to recall instantly. Your child should be able to tell you which ‘Learn Its’ they are working on so that you can support at home with these.
Parent Consultation Evenings
To keep parents well informed of children’s progress, we will send home termly attainment and attitude to learning reports. These will be followed by parent consultation meetings to discuss the reports; the meetings will take place in November, March and July. If you have any concerns or issues about your child at any time, staff are always willing to meet with you. If this is not possible immediately, please telephone and make an appointment.
