Year 3/4

Welcome to the Year 3/4 page.

Our Year 3/4 area is home to three vibrant classes— Dolphins, Seahorses, and Starfish—all based in a welcoming quad space. Between our classrooms, we have a shared working and reading area, fostering collaboration and a love for learning. We also have a dedicated spare classroom for targeted teaching and interventions, providing additional opportunities for your child to thrive.

While our classes are mixed-age, we teach some key subjects, like Reading and Maths, in discrete year groups to ensure every child receives tailored learning experiences and achieves their full potential.

‍Meet Our Team

We are proud to have a dedicated team committed to supporting your child’s learning journey:

• Dolphins: Miss Kendall (Class Teacher/Phase Leader)
• Seahorses: Miss Owen (Class Teacher), Mrs Bolton (HLTA)
• Starfish: Miss Westlake (Class Teacher)
• Support Staff:
   
  • Mrs Guilfoyle (HLTA)
   
  • Mrs Trezise (Teaching Assistant)
   
  • Mrs Kelly (Teaching Assistant)
   
  • Miss Constable (1:1 Teaching Assistant)
   
  • Miss Lawrence (Teaching Assistant)
   
  • Mrs Bridges (1:1 Teaching Assistant)

Learning Enquiries

Our learning enquiries are an exciting cornerstone of the Year 3/4 curriculum. These cross-curricular topics allow children to delve deeply into a subject, making connections with areas like Writing and Science. Each half term, children explore a long enquiry and a short enquiry, with opportunities to extend their learning through trips and visitors.

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Termly Learning Highlights:

Autumn 1:

 
• Long Enquiry: Moving Mechanisms – Children create interactive storybooks using levers and concertinas.
 
• Short Enquiry: Learn to compose music using computing software.
  

Autumn 2:

 
• Long Enquiry: Explore the Roman invasion of Britain, with a trip to Exeter Museum.
 
• Short Enquiry: Discover the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, learning about their impact on Britain.
  

Spring 1:

 
• Long Enquiry: Develop keyboard skills and perform for parents, exploring musical genres and famous musicians.
 
• Short Enquiry: Create stunning textile collages and sew their own pencil cases.
  

Spring 2:

 
• Long Enquiry: Go on a European city tour, comparing cities to Brixham and designing their own city.
 
• Short Enquiry : Using an inspirational artist to understand how to construct pieces art through collage.
  

Summer  1:

 
• Long Enquiry: Dive into expressionist art, learn painting techniques, and create masterpieces inspired by famous artists.
 
• Short Enquiry: Use data loggers to collect and analyse data with our brand-new weather station.
  

Summer  2:

 
• Long Enquiry: Build coding skills by programming games using Scratch and Turtle Academy.
 
• Short Enquiry: Explore Brixham’s fishing heritage with visits to the fish market and a local restaurant.

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Core Subjects

Writing

Children explore fiction, non-fiction, and poetry to develop their writing skills. Each unit involves studying a model text, co-writing with peers, and creating independent pieces. Alongside writing lessons, children receive focused spelling and handwriting sessions to build their technical skills.

Maths

Maths is taught in discrete year groups, ensuring lessons are tailored to Year 3 and Year 4 levels. We focus on fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving, alongside daily times table practice to prepare Year 4 pupils for the national Multiplication Tables Check.

Reading

Building on the foundation of Key Stage 1, Year 3/4 children enjoy daily whole-class reading lessons with carefully chosen texts to develop fluency, stamina, and comprehension. They are also encouraged to foster a love for reading through class stories, library visits, and enrichment activities. Children still on the Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics program receive tailored support to ensure progress.

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Beyond the Core Subjects

In addition to Reading, Writing, and Maths, Year 3/4 pupils enjoy a broad curriculum, including:

• Science – Hands-on investigations to nurture curiosity.
• PSHE – Building confidence, resilience, and teamwork skills.
• Spanish  - Developing vocabulary and conversational skills.
• PE  - Promoting fitness and teamwork through various sports.
• RE   - Exploring world religions and values.

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We are committed to helping your child grow academically, socially, and emotionally, ensuring they leave Year 3/4 with fond memories and valuable skills for the future. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please feel free to contact us!

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