Beech - Year 3
Class Teacher (Mon–Thurs): Mr Murray
Class Teacher (Fri): Mrs Billingham
Class TA (Mon–Thurs): Mrs Billingham
Teaching Assistant (Fri): Mrs Fardoe
Class Support: Miss Burch (various times during the week)
Welcome to Beech Class!
Mr Murray will be teaching Monday to Thursday. During these days, Mrs Billingham will be the class TA. On Fridays, she will be teaching the class with Mrs Fardoe supporting. Miss Burch will also be helping at different times across the week.
PE and Swimming
- Beech class will not be swimming in the Summer term.
- PE will take place on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Children should come to school in their full PE kit, including comfortable black trainers.
Maths – Summer 1
- Fractions
We begin the half term with a key focus on fractions. Children will build on their understanding of parts and wholes and develop confidence with:
- adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator
- finding fractions of amounts
- recognising and using equivalent fractions
Key goal: To understand what fractions represent and explain their thinking using mathematical language.
- Money
We then move on to money, linking maths to real-life situations. Pupils will learn to:
- add and subtract amounts of money
- convert between pounds (£) and pence (p)
- solve practical problems involving money and giving change
Key goal: To apply maths skills in real-world contexts with increasing accuracy and confidence.
Ongoing Maths Skills
Alongside these topics, we will continue to practise:
- times tables (especially 3, 4 and 8)
- mental maths strategies
- reasoning and problem solving
Regular practice of times tables and number facts at home will really support your child’s progress.
How we teach: The CPA Approach
To ensure no child is left behind, we use the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach:
- Concrete: Using physical objects (like Base 10 blocks or counters).
- Pictorial: Drawing diagrams or bar models to represent the math.
- Abstract: Moving to using only numbers and symbols once the concept is fully understood.
How you can help at home:
Involve your child in real-life math, such as weighing ingredients for cooking or measuring the length of items around the house.
Practise the 3, 4, and 8 times tables regularly.
Literacy – Summer 1
Text Type: Explanation Writing
This half term, children will be learning how to write explanation texts, where they explain how something works. We will be using fun examples such as invention machines to keep the learning engaging.
- Writing Skills
Children will learn how to:
- introduce their ideas clearly
- explain how something works step by step
- use headings such as How does it work?
- Sentence Structure
We will focus on building longer sentences using words such as:
- because, when, before, after
- Vocabulary
Children will begin to use:
- words that show cause (e.g. this causes, therefore, as a result)
- phrases that add detail (e.g. on the floor, inside the machine)
Key goal: To explain ideas clearly using simple, well-structured sentences.
How to help at home
- Ask your child to explain how things work
- Encourage full sentences when speaking
- Read together every night with an adult and fill in the reading log- spot interesting vocabulary
Spellings
Spellings will go home on Fridays to be practised at home. They will be linked to a spelling rule or pattern that we are learning in class. Not all words will be formally tested, but practising them regularly will help children apply the rules in their writing.
Reminders
- Please check the school website for uniform and stationery expectations.
- Toys should not be brought into school as they can be distracting during lessons.