Year 3 Handbook

Pupils in Year 3 who are going ‘straight home’ must sign out from the Reception playground (next to the ATP) between 16:00-16:15. Pupils staying past 16:15 must be collected from the Dining Hall. If your child is being collected by someone other than you, we must be notified via phone or email.

If your child is going home with another adult, then please inform your child’s form teacher or the school office.

We offer Long Stay to help parents. If your child is not signed up for an activity through our co-curricular programme, they will either go into the Junior Dining
Hall where they are able to do their Prep or a quiet activity such as reading or drawing. Your child will need to inform their Form teacher in the morning at registration to be added to the list. If your plans change during the day, please inform the School Office on 0118 9871810 so our lists can be updated, and your child informed of the change of plans.

Long Stay care is free of charge for pupils in Year 3 and above.

Our Breakfast Club runs daily from 07:30 to 08:15, with the last serving at 08:00. This is a supervised session in which children are offered a selection of hot and cold items. Breakfast is charged at £4.95 per day and will be added to fee invoices at the end of the term. If you plan to use Breakfast Club on a regular basis, you can book via SOCS booking system. Breakfast Club also welcomes casual diners and you may drop your child off in the Dining Room any day without prior booking. Breakfast Club will commence on the first day of term.

Snack

During the morning, pupils are provided with a wholesome snack, which might include a rice cake or a piece of fruit.

Whilst it is not encouraged, pupils are permitted to bring a healthy snack from home, provided it contains STRICTLY NO NUTS. Chocolate, crisps and sweets are not permitted.

Additionally, pupils should bring a labelled water bottle, already filled, to school each
day.

Our pastoral ethos has the pupil front and centre, whilst also helping them see that they are part of something bigger than any one individual can ever be.

We create an environment in which we can combine support and safety with allowing our pupils to experience life as it is going to be – imperfect. We want them to be challenged, we want them to step outside their comfort zone, we want them to experience winning, and we need them to experience losing. All children at some point will find these moments difficult to navigate. We want our pupils to feel heard and as such will always look to empower them to express how they are feeling.

Our school values are discussed during Collects (assemblies), PSHE and in conversations around the school. This helps instil our ethos into our pupils and ensures our community thrives. Wellbeing is not a stand-alone activity within Juniors – it is part of everything we do.

How is pastoral care implemented within Juniors?

Our pastoral structure is very much aimed at giving support and clarity to both pupils and parents as to who is there to help in any given situation. Each year group is led by one of our Heads of Year. These Heads of Yera oversee your child’s personal journey throughout the year, and as such will have the time to forge strong and trusting relationships with parents and children alike.

Heads of Year are supported by form teachers, who are your child’s ‘constant’; their everyday person who they can go to about the littlest thing, and whom they can check in with most regularly. Your child’s form teacher helps the pupils see themselves as part of a small team whilst also celebrating their own personal achievements and interests.

We provide extra support in Year 3 as pupils settle into a new part of the school, with slightly more complicated routines. Our Year 3 teaching staff are incredibly caring and supportive, and they are led by the Head of Year 3, Mrs Linda Barnes, who will oversee the transition and organisation of the year group.

We also have an amazing team of non-teaching staff who are very much part of your child’s support network. Everyone has your child’s best interest at heart and works tirelessly to create a comfortable, safe, enjoyable environment.

Gold standard pastoral care does not occur because of structure, but a consistent foundation does help people thrive. We have great staff in our community, and we have them placed strategically to allow them to support your children to an exceptionally high standard.

We request that parents wanting to arrange a meeting with teachers please email the relevant member of staff in the first instance, requesting the meeting. The member of staff will respond within 24 hours (not including weekends) and suggest suitable times to meet. On the day of the meeting parents will need to sign in a main reception, where the relevant teacher will come and meet them. If a concern is urgent, we request that the parents notify a Pastoral Lead on duty during 08:00 – 08:15 at drop off who will then be able to create actions as necessary.

We politely ask that unless a meeting has been arranged, parents do not come up to classrooms, especially in the morning, as form teachers are required at these times to support their classes. There is opportunity for more informal ‘check ins’ at the end of the day everyday at 16:00 in the Reception playground at ‘straight home’ sign out.

Pupils will be taught predominantly in their mixed-ability form groups, except for Maths where they will be streamed.

A single lesson lasts 30 minutes but many subjects are taught in double lessons lasting an hour.

Your child will be allocated to one of our four ‘Houses’ in Year 3. The Houses are named: Lake, Marlborough, Park and School. These Houses form the platform for much of school life, from competitions, both academic and sporting, fundraising and performances.

Meet the Crosfield Juniors House Team

Mr Ben Keepax
Lake House Lead

Email: benkeepax@crosfields.com

I am pleased to introduce myself as the Lake House Lead at Crosfields School. With a passion for school life and a commitment to being an excellent role model for the children, I bring energy, enthusiasm, and approachability to this role. The house system at Crosfields is at the  heart of our community, fostering a strong sense of belonging and encouraging community spirit. I am genuinely excited to work with your child and contribute to their growth and development within our vibrant school community.

Mrs Angela Quinn
Marlborough House Lead

Email: angelaquinn@crosfields.com

I am delighted to be House Lead for Marlborough. The house system at Crosfields is so important in empowering each child with a sense of belonging and community. I am committed to ensuring that our House is a place where we can all have fun while learning and growing together. I look forward to getting to know all of the children and working collaboratively to make our House the best it can be.

Mrs Elizabeth Ganpatsingh
Park House Lead

Email: elizabethganpatsingh@crosfields.com

I’m thrilled to be stepping into the role of House Lead for Park. I believe that the house system is fantastic for building a strong sense of community across the Junior year groups and I’m especially keen to see the older members of our House setting a great example for the younger pupils. I’m looking forward to cheering on Park in the interhouse competitions and the bake-offs!

Mr Ben Wills
School House Lead

Email: benwills@crosfields.com

I am excited to be starting as the House Lead for School. I have a passion for sports, personal development, and new challenges. I look forward to bringing this passion to the role and helping to foster it in the pupils of School House. The house system at Crosfields is a crucial part of creating a strong, positive environment for all pupils. I truly believe the house system plays a key role in ensuring students enjoy their time at school. I am eager to contribute to a positive culture that creates lasting memories.

Black Crosfields rucksack

This should be brought to school every day, along with your child’s school library book and yellow reading record, as well as their school planner.

Water bottles

Pupils should bring a filled, named water bottle to school each day.

PE/Games bags

Bags should be brought to school each Monday and will be sent home after school on a Thursday so that pupils can wear kit for Friday fixtures. Trainers will remain in school Monday to Thursday for lessons and breaktimes.

Swimming kit

Swimming kit should only be brought into school on the days it is needed for lessons.

Forest School clothes

Pupils will have Forest School sessions throughout the year, with Mrs Hills. This is done on a class rotation. All pupils will be provided with Crosfields waterproof jackets and trousers for these sessions but should also have their school tracksuits to provide extra warmth in the winter. They will also need a pair of wellington boots that will stay in school, and you will be notified when these are required.

For Year 3, pupils will be provided with all necessary classroom equipment apart from named headphones, which they should bring into school at the start of the year. It would be helpful if these could be left in school.

Pupils are expected to be reading at home every night and can change books as necessary in the school library.

Each week, pupils in Year 3 will be given one maths and one English piece of homework to complete. They are also expected to work on learning their times tables at the appropriate level.

During the Spring Term, pupils will go on a residential trip to Calshot Activities Centre in Fawley, near Southampton. They will enjoy an action-packed adventure and will stay away for one night. In previous years we have participated in activities such as a low ropes course, orienteering, exploring on the beach, wall climbing and zooming down the indoor ski slope in inflatable rings! This is always a great experience for the pupils and provides the opportunity for teamwork and independence.

Specialist teaching is provided in French, Music, Games, Computing, PE and Swimming for Year 3. Within the timetable, a weekly Enrichment slot allows pupils to take part in activities such as Forest School, cookery, and a class performance.

Our curriculum is designed to develop a child’s love of learning within the subjects mthat they are taught. Subject specialists and our Curriculum Leads ensure this enthusiasm for the subject carries through from the content taught to the trips and competitions children take part in. Our curriculum allows for a real focus on the individual, with small class sizes, regular teacher feedback and access to specialist teaching. Giving all pupils an opportunity to shine is hugely important to us and activities such as class performances allow small groups of children to perform in front of a theatre audience and gain great confidence in doing so. This is one example among others; soloist’s concerts, school council, orchestras, choirs, sports teams and academic awards all contribute to success in areas of interest to the child.

All subjects are tested throughout the year in a variety of ways. Our assessment programme includes online testing that requires no preparation, as well as in-class written tests which take place in the Autumn, Spring and Summer Term to assess the pupils and provide them with regular feedback.

At Crosfields, we believe reading for pleasure really matters. We know that children who enjoy reading and read regularly do better at school and are happier, healthier, and more socially aware. We also know how important it is that they find the ‘right’ book – a book they want to read and have chosen themselves. That is why we have produced guides from which Year 3 to Year 6 can choose and we have reading challenges both in term time and during the holidays.

From Year 3 to Year 6 we encourage pupils to read widely and often through the Accelerated Reader scheme with the incentive of becoming a Word Count Millionaire. We celebrate reading champions every half term, for recognition of effort and determination to improve reading skills.

As part of a weekly designated library lesson, children can make use of our wellresourced library. The librarian is on hand to offer advice if a pupil doesn’t know what to read. There are staff recommendations, and peer to peer recommendations. We have author and illustrator visits to inspire pupils to create their own stories.
Visiting authors help to empower children to read for pleasure and be more creative in their writing.

During morning and lunch breaks the library is open to all children in Years 3 – 6 and offers a welcoming and comfortable place to read books or catch up on current affairs through newspapers and magazines.

Music and Drama

Wherever you stand in Crosfields you will always be able to hear music. We have a thriving music department offering instrumental groups, and a Year 3 and 4 choir with a range of performance opportunities throughout the year. All the pupils receive two music lessons a week, taught by a specialist music teacher, and they learn a musical instrument as part of the curriculum.

We offer a range of opportunities throughout the academic year for pupils to perform, from class plays, Junior production and assemblies, to concerts and school events, pupils are encouraged to immerse themselves in music and drama and are offered many opportunities to showcase their talents throughout the year.

For those children interested in additional instrumental lessons, we have a strong team of music teachers, teaching a variety of instruments. The lessons are 30minutes and take place in the main music school.

We run an exciting co-curricular programme which offers a range of activities for pupils to take part in. The programme is delivered by both teachers and external providers. Hence, there is a mixture of paid-for activities and sessions which are offered at no cost.

Parents are asked to book these online with their child. We recommend that pupils should have no more than one after-school activity on any given day. Some sessions do have a maximum number of places available. If a session is oversubscribed, the activity may either be run on rotation or children picked through a ballot for the available places.

If you have any further questions, please refer to Co-Curricular information in The Hub section of the school app.

When can I book?

A notice will be sent via the school app listing all the activities available and when the sign-up window opens. This happens about 2 weeks before the start of term in September, and at the end of the Autumn Term and Spring Term. Parents new to Crosfields will receive their login to the SOCS website during the first week of term, but will be able to register for activities through Admissions.

When Crosfields’ pupils reach Year 3, they experience opportunities to play weekly fixtures against other schools. In Year 3, external matches for the major games happen on Friday afternoons and we play each sport as Co-Ed teams. The major sports we play fixtures in are football, hockey, rugby, netball and cricket. Parents are invited to watch all fixtures, whether they are home or away.

Please ensure you look at SOCS for all the fixture details, the dates will also be on the school calendar.

The aim, wherever possible, is to provide a fully inclusive match day program, in which all pupils participate. However, due to the number of teams available at other schools, this is not always possible, and when required, squad rotation does occur to enable participation. The higher-ability teams are chosen on merit and pupils earn selection for higher teams through progress, effort and performance.

Swimming fixtures are also introduced in Year 3 and occur on Thursday afternoons with swimming squads running before school. There are also limited external competitive opportunities in cross-country, basketball, badminton, tennis, and athletics.

Each week Year 3 pupils will have an hours PE lesson, an hour’s swimming lesson, a 90 minute games lesson, and a games afternoon where we play fixtures.

Our school uniforms are supplied by Stevensons. You can find the specific uniform you need using their new search feature. You can also set up an account by creating a profile and adding your child’s information.

We also have a school shop on site, which is open each week during term time on a Wednesday. The shop coordinator can be contacted by telephoning the main school office. The on site school shop stocks second-hand items and is open each Wednesday during term time between 15:30 and 16:30. However, if you are looking for a specific item and cannot attend during this time, please email shop@crosfields.com and one of the dedicated team will have a look for you.

For all items purchased through the school shop, the proceeds go directly to the bursary fund and we ask for donations for any selected items.

In order to maximise teaching time on specific days, pupils arrive and/or leave school in Crosfields’ PE/Games kit. Please click here for more details.

The items with an asterisk are branded and must be purchased from our nominated partner, Stevensons. Other items may be purchased unbranded. New parents should buy the items as listed below. Current parents do not need to buy new items, but as your child grows out of clothes and you replace them, please replace
with new garments as detailed below. Trainers can be any colour, although please stay away from garish colours and ensure a non-marking sole. Please can football boots have a Velcro strap, unless pupil knows how to tie shoelaces. Football boots are worn for cross-country, football and rugby.

The items with an asterisk are branded and must be purchased from our nominated partner, Stevensons. Other items may be purchased unbranded.

Summer Uniform

(worn first half of the Autumn term and all of the Summer term)

Swimming Kit

PE and Games Kit

Forest School

Art Overall

Optional items

Additional Items