As your child progresses through Year 3, it’s important to understand the key learning expectations across different subjects. Below is a guide to the skills and knowledge your child is expected to develop in reading, writing, maths, and science by the end of Year 3.

1. Reading

In Year 3, children are expected to:

• Read with fluency and understanding: Children should be able to read a wide range of texts fluently, including both fiction and non-fiction, and show understanding of what they have read.

• Make inferences and predictions: Children should be able to make inferences about a text (e.g., inferring a character’s feelings from their actions) and predict what might happen next in a story.

• Identify key features of different genres: They should understand the structure of different types of texts, such as stories, non-fiction books, and poems, and be able to identify key features like headings, subheadings, and paragraphs.

• Understand new vocabulary: Children should use context to help them understand the meaning of new words and be able to explain these words to others.

Key Skills in Reading:

• Reading fluently and with understanding.

• Making inferences and predictions.

• Identifying features of different text types.

• Understanding and explaining new vocabulary.

2. Writing

In Year 3, children are expected to:

• Write clear and coherent sentences: Children should be able to write grammatically correct sentences, using capital letters, full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks. They should also begin to use commas in lists and after introductory phrases.

• Use a variety of sentence types: Children should use a mixture of simple, compound, and complex sentences to convey their ideas clearly and add detail to their writing.

• Spell words correctly: They should spell most common words correctly and apply phonics rules to unfamiliar words. They should also be able to use a dictionary to check spelling.

• Use paragraphs to organise writing: Children should be able to structure their writing into paragraphs to help the reader follow the text, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

• Write for different purposes: They will write for a range of purposes, such as stories, instructions, letters, and reports, adapting their writing style for different audiences.

Key Skills in Writing:

• Writing grammatically correct sentences with appropriate punctuation.

• Using a range of sentence types.

• Spelling words correctly and checking spelling.

• Organising writing into paragraphs.

• Writing for different purposes and audiences.

3. Mathematics

In Year 3, children are expected to:

• Number and place value: Children should be able to read and write numbers up to 1,000, compare and order numbers, and understand the place value of each digit in a 3-digit number.

• Addition and subtraction: They should be able to add and subtract numbers up to 3 digits using column methods and mental strategies.

• Multiplication and division: Children should know their multiplication tables up to 12x12 and be able to multiply and divide numbers, using these facts to solve problems.

• Fractions: Children should understand simple fractions (e.g., 1/2, 1/3, 1/4), be able to find fractions of amounts, and compare fractions with the same denominator.

• Measurement: They should be able to measure and compare lengths, mass, volume, and time, using standard units (e.g., centimetres, grams, litres).

• Geometry: Children should be able to identify and describe 2D and 3D shapes, including their properties (e.g., number of sides, angles, faces) and understand symmetry.

• Statistics: They should be able to interpret and create simple graphs, including bar charts and pictograms, and answer questions based on the data.

Key Skills in Mathematics:

• Reading and writing numbers up to 1,000.

• Adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers.

• Knowing and applying multiplication and division facts up to 12x12.

• Understanding and working with fractions.

• Measuring length, weight, volume, and time.

• Identifying and describing shapes and their properties.

• Interpreting and creating simple graphs.

4. Science

In Year 3, children are expected to:

• Plants: Children should know the parts of a plant and their functions (e.g., roots, stem, leaves, flowers), and understand what plants need to grow (e.g., light, water, soil).

• Animals, including humans: Children should learn about the different parts of the human body, including the skeleton and muscles, and how these parts help the body move. They should also understand the importance of a healthy diet, exercise, and hygiene.

• Rocks: They should learn about different types of rocks (e.g., sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic) and their properties (e.g., hardness, texture). They should understand how rocks are formed and their uses.

• Forces and magnets: Children should understand basic forces, such as push and pull, and learn about magnetic forces. They should be able to identify materials that are attracted to magnets and use magnets to solve problems.

• Light: Children should understand that light is necessary for seeing things, and that light travels in straight lines. They should also learn about shadows and how they are formed.

Key Skills in Science:

• Understanding the parts of plants and their functions.

• Learning about the human body, exercise, and healthy living.

• Exploring different types of rocks and their properties.

• Investigating forces and magnets.

• Understanding light and shadows.

How Parents Can Support Learning

Here are some ways you can support your child’s learning at home:

• Reading: Encourage your child to read regularly. Discuss the stories and ask them to predict what will happen next. Help them with new vocabulary and encourage them to share their thoughts on what they read.

• Writing: Encourage your child to write at home, whether it's a story, a letter, or a diary entry. Help them with spelling and punctuation, and encourage them to use paragraphs in their writing.

• Maths: Practice times tables together and use everyday situations (e.g., shopping, cooking) to help them understand measurement, addition, subtraction, and fractions.

• Science: Explore nature with your child and discuss plants, animals, and the environment. Conduct simple experiments to help them understand forces and magnets or light and shadows.

If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact us. We are here to help and support both you and your child throughout the year!