Storage

 

All children will be provided with a locker where they are able to store their bags and coats. Please be aware that these lockers are large enough for a small school bag and are not suitable for rucksacks or any additional items. Lunch boxes are stored on separate trolleys.

 

Homework

 

Children will be given log in details for Times Tables Rock Stars, a multiplication and division game. We ask that children play the game a few times over the week to improve their fluency. Children will also be provided with a spelling overview each half term. This will give details of the words children need to practise spelling at home in preparation for their weekly test.

 

Home Reading

 

Your child will be able to select two books from the library each week. One will be a banded book for them to read at school and the other is a free choice book to read at home. Your child’s library day is a Tuesday so please can you ensure their book is in their bag on these days should it need changing.

 

Class Readers

 

As part of our English curriculum, we want to continue to foster a love of reading and expose our children to a range of authors. Over the course of the year, and in addition to what we teach in English, each year group will be sharing different texts from a variety of authors. The teacher will be reading the text at various points during the day and we would like the children to have their own copy in order to follow, read along and perhaps read aloud to the class. Whilst we would like to provide these books for all children, we hope you will understand that buying such a large quantity of books would be prohibitively expensive for the school. Therefore, we would like to invite you to purchase a copy of your class’s texts for your child, or bring in their own copy, should they already have it. It may also be possible for them to withdraw these from their local library.

 

Please see below for your child’s year group texts for the whole year:

 

Autumn 1 – The Hodgeheg – Dick King Smith

Autumn 2 – Flat Stanley – Jeff Brown

Spring 1 – Wolves – Emily Gravett

Spring 2 – Twelfth Night – Andrew Matthews – Shakespeare

Summer 1 – Anna Hibiscus – Atinuke

Summer 2 – Cool – Michael Morpurgo

 

PE and Games

 

PE will be on Mondays and Wednesdays. It is important that your child wears their PE uniform into school on these days: blue or black shorts, leggings or tracksuit bottoms, yellow PE t-shirt, school jumper or cardigan, and trainers or plimsolls.

 

We do not encourage the wearing of jewellery in school but children may wear a single pair of stud earrings and a watch. Earrings must be removed by the child or covered with a suitable microporous tape, which can be provided, during PE and games sessions. Please note that teachers and other members of staff are not permitted to remove a child’s earrings so they must be able to remove or cover them themselves. Sports watches and Fit Bits must also be removed before games sessions.

 

School Uniform

 

All children are expected to wear school uniform. The uniform consists of a white polo-shirt or shirt, navy blue sweatshirt or cardigan (preferably with school logo), black or grey trousers, shorts or skirts, and all black shoes or trainers. To avoid potential loss of clothing, please ensure all garments are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

 

Trips and Activities

 

In Year 3, there are a range of trips and activities for which we may require financial support. Please be aware that prices are approximate. However, at the request of parents, we have tried to detail these in advance for the year, as follows:

 

● Design technology activities for a year - £2.00

● Skeleton workshop using museum artefacts September - £1.00

● Egyptian Museum Open Session (at school for parents) December – Free

● Hooke Court 3 day optional residential visit January – Approx £185

● Stone Age Workshop (for non-residential children) January - £10

● Southsea Seafront April – Free

● Just Different Workshop for PSHE July - £4.00

 

Mobile Phones and Social Media

 

It is recommended that your child does not bring a mobile phone to school as we cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage that may occur. However, if you decide it is necessary for your child, then they must turn their phone off on arrival at school and hand it to their class teacher at the start of the day. It will be stored in the classroom and returned at the end of the school day. Mobile phones should not be turned on until your child has left the school grounds. We would like to remind parents that children should not be using any social media platform which is below the legal age stated or without parental supervision. Therefore, any issues arising with social media use will always be referred back to parents.

 

Healthy Snacks

 

Children are allowed to bring in a healthy snack for their morning break. They are welcome to bring in fruit, cereal bars or any healthy alternative to keep in their tray, in a separate container to their named lunch box, until break time. Please note that crisps, chocolate bars and sweets are not acceptable healthy snacks and we are a strictly nut free school. Children should bring in their own named water bottle daily, so that they can have access to drinking water during the day.

 

Curriculum Map

 

A curriculum map, which is a general overview of the work your child will be doing during the year, is available on our website here.

 

Social stories

 

Social stories are short descriptions of a particular situation, event or activity, which include specific information about what to expect in that situation and why. They can help children cope with changes to routine and reduce anxiety. As a school we have developed social stories for when we have trips and visitors as this is when the school day will be different from normal routine. If you feel your child would benefit from these, then please read them to your child.

All our social stories for each year group can be found here: Social Stories | CRANESWATER

 

Family support

At Craneswater, we are committed to supporting your family’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing. We want to make your child’s journey with us as supported and enjoyable as possible. Our Family Well-being support team are here to help or signpost you to external agencies. Please look at our family support page on our website:

Parental Support | CRANESWATER or email familysupport@craneswater.portsmouth.sch.uk