Year 3/4

Meet the Year 3/4 Team!

Year 3S- Mrs Eshborn, Mrs Eastham, Mrs Kelly and Miss Ball

Year 3/4T- Mr Pitcher, Mr Dancer, Mrs Thornton and Mrs McEntee

Year 4A- Miss McGrahan, Mrs Ibbotson and Mr Holme

Year 3 & 4 Non-Negotiables

Year 3/4 Curriculum Overview

Our curriculum is bespoke for the children at St. Anthony’s. We have developed an imaginative, broad and balanced programme containing links across the curriculum to ensure a deep and rich learning experience, relevant to the world we live in and our locality. Our curriculum meets the developmental and learning needs of all pupils and is designed to motivate all children to achieve, thrive and to enjoy learning.

All areas of the Lower Key Stage 2 National Curriculum are covered over the course of a two-year cycle. Each year, children build on prior learning and we ensure that they are able to apply the skills they have learnt independently before moving on. Teaching staff collaborate with subject leaders and the leadership team to ensure the curriculum is inspiring, relevant and focused on the needs of our pupils.

Autumn 2025 Meet the Teacher

Year 3/4 Curriculum Cycle A & B

Our 3/4 Curriculum Newsletters (Cycle A)

Year 3&4 Newsletter Autumn 1 2025

Home Learning Expectations

At our school, we believe that home learning is a vital part of a child’s education. It reinforces the skills and knowledge taught in class, promotes independence, and provides a valuable opportunity for parents to be involved in their child’s learning journey.

Our home learning expectations are designed to be manageable and effective, focusing on key areas that support academic growth.

Reading is Key: We strongly encourage all children to read at home regularly. This can be reading independently, reading aloud to an adult, or listening to an adult read to them. Even a short amount of time each day can make a significant difference.

In Year 3 & 4: We ask that children read for a minimum of 15-20 minutes each day. This can be a mix of independent reading and reading with a grown-up. Please remember to sign their reading record so we can track their progress.

The Power of Reading at Home: The benefits of reading for pleasure at home are well-documented. Research has shown that it is one of the most powerful factors in a child’s academic success.

A child who reads for just 20 minutes a day is exposed to roughly 1.8 million words a year, compared to just 282,000 words for a child who reads for only 5 minutes a day.
Reading for pleasure has been found to be more important for a child’s cognitive development than their parents’ level of education.
Students who read books daily tend to score higher on school tests. A major study found that pupils who read high-quality books daily scored, on average, the equivalent of 3 months’ worth of additional academic growth in their secondary school years.
The presence of books in the home is strongly linked to reading enjoyment and confidence. Children who report having more than 200 books at home are significantly more likely to be “very confident” readers compared to those with fewer than 10 books.

Other Home Learning: In addition to reading, children will be given weekly tasks to practice key skills in maths and English. This will include:

Spelling: Weekly spelling lists to learn.
Times Tables: Regular practice on platforms like Times Tables Rock Stars.
Mathletics: These are designed to consolidate learning from the classroom and will be set weekly.

We know family life can be busy, and we ask for your support in helping your child to establish a consistent routine for home learning. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to speak to your child’s teacher

Our Communication and Rewards System

In Year 3 and 4, we use ClassDojo as our primary platform for celebrating student achievements and fostering a strong home-school connection.

Rewards and Recognition: ClassDojo allows us to award points to children for demonstrating positive behaviors, hard work, and good citizenship in the classroom. This real-time feedback system helps to motivate students and allows you to see their progress and successes throughout the day and week.

Staying Connected: We also use ClassDojo as a convenient and non-urgent line of communication. You can send us messages with any questions or comments you may have, and we will respond as soon as we are able. Please note that for urgent matters, it is always best to contact the school office directly.

Showcasing Learning: We love to share the exciting things happening in our classrooms! Through ClassDojo, we regularly post photos and updates to showcase your children’s amazing work, highlight important events, and give you a glimpse into their daily learning journey.

If you are not yet connected to our ClassDojo, please speak with your child’s teacher for information on how to join.