Year 3 Reading

In Year 3, children are moving beyond phonics into becoming fluent, confident readers. While Little Wandle phonics resources are mostly designed for younger children, there are still lots of helpful ways you can support your child at home.

How to Help at Home

• Fluency practice – encourage your child to re-read short sections aloud so their reading sounds smooth and expressive.

• Vocabulary growth – talk about tricky or new words, discuss their meaning, and try using them in different sentences.

• Comprehension checks – ask questions such as “Why do you think the character did that?” or “What might happen next?”

• Independent vs shared reading – your child should read their matched school book independently, but it’s also important to enjoy more challenging stories together.

• Spelling links – use resources like the Grow the Code or Bridge to Spelling mats (if your child brings them home) to make connections between reading and spelling.

Helpful Resources

• Little Wandle Rapid Catch-up – for children in KS2 who may still need some phonics reinforcement.

• Little Wandle Bridge to Spelling – supports children with the spelling patterns they will meet in Year 3.

• BookTrust – www.booktrust.org.uk – ideas, activities and recommended books to keep reading enjoyable.

• Oxford Owl – www.oxfordowl.co.uk – free e-books and guides for parents.

✨ Remember: little and often makes the biggest difference – 10 minutes of reading together each day is more powerful than one long session a week.✨

Local Bookshops

Reading for enjoyment helps children develop imagination, vocabulary, and confidence, while visiting local independent bookshops supports community businesses and a love of discovering new stories!

• Moon Lane, Catford 

• Catford Bookshop – Catford

• Forest Hill Books – Forest Hill

• Grove Books – Honor Oak Park

• The Book Nook – Sydenha