Year 3

We’ve had another productive and interesting couple of weeks moving away from writing a non-chronological report about sloths to the magical world of poetry.  It has been delightful to see everyone’s engagement and interests inside and outside of school about arguably the ‘laziest mammals’.  This led us all to discover so many new things and was an excellent way to unpick how we could present our knowledge effectively including subheadings and paragraphs.  Our new stimulus has ignited imagination and creativity with the poem The Garden Year and we have been delving into what a poem is and how it can make us feel.

In maths, we are continuing to look at patterns in numbers and using what we already know to help us as we move towards to formal recording of addition and subtraction with the column method.  Examples include using number bonds to 10 to help us add to the next ten or understand number bonds to 100 and using what we know about number structure.

Further investigations into magnets had children observing which materials are magnetic and asking if all magnetic objects are made of metal, are all metals magnetic?  Why are some coins magnetic and some not?  In geography, we explored different stages of The Thames to see how the landscape changes.

The children also worked on patterns and rhythm in PE with a ‘jump to the beat’ challenge.  How fantastic to see this activity being practised outside during playtime!

Thank you for all your efforts with reading with your children.  It is wonderful to see the love of reading coming through which filters through to writing.  We’ve been reading The Last Bear (Hannah Gold) together which has complex and thoughtful language.  It has been great to see the engagement of everyone and have the opportunity to talk together about the story.

  

  

w/b 06.10.25

Words with /ur/ sound spelt with ear (eg. earth, early, learn, heard)

Key words: addition, subtraction, increase, decrease, poem, autumn, magnetic force, attract, repel, rural, urban, suburban

Maths facts: 10 and 100 more nor less

 

w/b 13.10.25

Spelling rule: Homophones & near homophones (eg. here/hear not/knot))

Key words: addend, sum, minuend, subtrahend, difference, commutative, inverse, personification, alliteration, magnetic force, attract, repel, rural, urban, suburban, land use, settlement

Maths facts: 10 and 100 more nor less

 

Key dates: 

• Family Teacher Meetings: Tuesday 14th (3.30 - 7.00pm) & Thursday 16th (3.30 - 6.30pm) October
• Start of half term break for children: Wednesday 22nd October at 3.15pm
• Inset days: Thursday 23rd & Friday 24th October

 

Year 4

What a fantastic week we’ve had in Year 4! In English, the children have been inspired by The Barnabus Project. They have produced some brilliant character descriptions, showing real creativity and attention to detail. Next week, we are looking forward to moving on to diary writing, where the children will get the chance to write from the perspective of their chosen character and explore their thoughts and feelings.

In reading, we have started The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club. It’s a challenging text, but the children have been captivated by the suspenseful and gripping story. They are already enjoying predicting what might happen next and discussing the tense moments in the plot.

In maths, we have moved on from place value to addition and subtraction. The children have been solving calculations using a range of strategies, including partitioning, number lines, and column methods. They are making excellent progress and enjoying the challenge of applying their skills to word problems.

Our geography lessons have taken us to the world’s biomes. This week, we have explored the tundra, learning about its unique climate, plants, and animals. Next, we will study the savanna, looking at its features before finally comparing the different biomes we have explored.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the week has been art! The children are using clay to create their own Islamic tiles. Inspired by Islamic art, they are experimenting with geometric and vegetal patterns to create beautiful, intricate designs. It’s wonderful to see their creativity and attention to detail in three dimensions!

We’re really looking forward to meeting everyone next week during our family teacher meetings. And a reminder too that on the very last day of term, we’ll be at the Wetlands Centre in Barnes for our first school trip of the year!

               

               

  

  

                                    

w/b 6/10/25

Homophones & near homophones

medal 

meddle 

missed 

mist 

scene 

seen 

board 

bored 

which 

witch 

Key words: 

Addition, subtraction, represent, digit, placeholder, diary entry, first person, past tense, time adverbial, tundra, savanna, vegetation, features, classification key

 

w/b 13/10/25

Words with /shun/ endings spelt with ‘sion’ (if root word ends in ‘se’, ‘de’ or ‘d’)

division

invasion

confusion

decision

collision

television

revision

erosion

inclusion

explosion

Key words: 

Exchanging, number bonds to 100, paragraphs, environment, human impact, programming, algorithm, commands

 

Key Messages: 

• Thanks so much for your support with reading records this autumn term. Please record five reading record comments per week, ready for checking on Mondays.

• Please ensure your child has a healthy and delicious snack with them for break times!

• A reminder children should also practise spellings and times tables. 

 

Key dates:

• 14/10, 16/10 - Family Teacher Meetings (evenings)
• 22/10 - Wetlands Centre Y4 school trip