Year 3-4

Welcome to Year 3-4!

Welcome to our vibrant Year 3-4 class, where curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning come to life every day!

What's special about Year 3-4?

Children in Year 3-4 begin to take real ownership of their learning. They become more independent, confident, and reflective, developing key skills like resilience, responsibility, and collaboration. This is also a time when their understanding of themselves and others deepens through a rich PSHE curriculum. They learn to express emotions, show empathy, and build positive relationships. In our Year 3 and 4 class, we celebrate each child’s unique strengths, encourage curiosity, and create a supportive environment that nurtures a lifelong love of learning.

How We Learn

We are a one-and-a-half form entry school, with approximately 45 children in each year group. Although we have three classes; Year 3, Year 3/4, and Year 4 - we are fortunate to have an additional teacher allocated to each key stage. This allows us to deliver core subject lessons in smaller groups, organised by year group, providing more focused and tailored learning experiences for all pupils.

We learn:

Through a mix of whole-class, small-group, and independent activities that cater to different learning styles and promote collaboration and independence.
By engaging with hands-on, practical tasks that make learning meaningful, memorable, and connected to real-life experiences.
Through regular opportunities for reflection and discussion, helping children take ownership of their progress and develop critical thinking and communication skills.

Things to Look Forward to

As part of our curriculum at St Thomas, we offer a wide range of enriching experiences beyond the classroom to support children’s learning and personal development. We provide exciting educational trips linked to curriculum topics, including a Year 4 trip to London and visits to local places of interest. All children take part in swimming lessons, and Year 4 pupils enjoy a visit to Smithills High School to watch their annual pantomime. Throughout the year, children also enjoy whole-school events such as our own school pantomime, Christmas disco, bingo nights, and the ever-popular St Thomas’ Got Talent. We celebrate themed days such as World Book Day, and benefit from engaging workshops like Rock Kidz. In addition, children enjoy high-quality music lessons delivered by Bolton Music Service. These varied experiences help to broaden children’s life experiences, nurture their talents, and create lasting memories.

Past Pupil Testimonial

"When I was in Mrs Ingram’s Year 3-4 class I really enjoyed her teaching. She was always funny and we had the change to further our learning after we had finished our work. Maths was my favourite subject and learning my times tables! My favourite trip was to London, where we saw Buckingham Palace and went on a cruise down the River Thames." - Akin

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Miss Varley

I have worked at St Thomas’ school for over twenty years- the majority of the time in year 6. Teaching is something I genuinely love-I get to build meaningful relationships with your child, watch them learn and develop, and be part of their journey during such a formative time in their lives.

Outside of school, I love spending time with family and friends. I enjoy reading, walking and going watching shows at the theatre. A fun fact about me is that I used to do Irish dancing when I was younger!

Mrs Ingram

This is my fourth year teaching lower key stage two and I am excited to be working with Year 3/4 again. I love supporting children as they build on their learning and develop greater independence, resilience, and a love of learning. It is lovely to see their confidence grow as they tackle new challenges, explore exciting topics, and develop their own ideas. I enjoy creating a positive and engaging classroom where curiosity and creativity help every child to thrive.

A little fact about me: In my early twenties I was quite the daredevil - I even completed a skydive and a bungee jump! I’m not quite as brave these days, but I still enjoy keeping active and love walking with my family. My favourite walk is Ingleton Falls in Carnforth.

Mrs Speed

I am the Year 3 teacher and truly enjoy working in Lower Key Stage 2, where children begin to grow in independence and develop a wonderful enthusiasm for learning. My aim is to create engaging and inspiring lessons that spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and nurture a lifelong love of learning. I believe in fostering a positive and supportive classroom environment where every child feels valued and confident to take on new challenges. Outside of school, I am a proud mum of two, and I love spending time with my family exploring new places and creating memorable adventures together.

Miss Smith

I have been a teacher for over 20 years and most of my career has been in Lower Key Stage Two - an age group I love to teach. My favourite subjects at school were Science, Geography, French and PE. I love to travel and explore new countries, and am blessed to have friends who live all over the world! My hobbies are knitting, choir, reading, movies and enjoying the great outdoors. Something you may not know about me- I lived in Egypt for 8 years, and can speak a little bit of Arabic!

Miss Caldwell

For the past nine years, I have taught and supported predominantly in Lower Key Stage 2. This has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I particularly enjoy seeing pupils’ personalities develop as they grow in confidence and begin to express their humour.

On a personal note, I am immensely proud of my two grown-up daughters who have flown the nest and are now thriving with confidence and independence.

I am fortunate to enjoy travelling and experiencing a variety of cultures, which I combine with another passion of mine — being a foodie.

Mrs Ibrahim

I am a special needs assistant with over 10 years of experience. I am deeply fulfilled by my role, which allows me to support children with diverse learning needs in a way that feels both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I work closely with teachers to tailor approaches that meet each child's unique requirements, fostering an environment where they feel included and valued. I enjoy spending quality time with family and spending time outdoors, enjoying long walks and adventure, creating new memories.

Mrs Dawson

I have worked at St Thomas for the past 5 years and enjoy working with and supporting children on their learning journey watching them grow and develop. I have worked in education for over 25years and currently work as a Special Needs Assistant.

Outside of School, I enjoy baking, sewing and reading. I also enjoy spending time with my two children and wider family, shopping, eating out and visiting new places, discovering new foods and sharing experiences.

Mrs Crompton

I have been lucky enough to work with children for over 20 years and joined St Thomas 7 years ago. I love being a teaching assistant because I get to help students learn and build their confidence and I also enjoy being a help and support to teachers in the classroom. My favourite lessons are those which involve Art or Design Technology.

When I’m not at school, I am either flying to Australia to spend time with my family, walking or playing pickle ball. An interesting fact about me is that I lived in the Canary Islands for several years.

Mrs Mitchell

I have worked at St Thomas’ school for nearly twenty years. During that time I have worked in all of the classes, enjoying helping, supporting and watching the children learn and grow.

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking my dog and I also love football. At least one day over the weekend is a football day either watching it on TV or going to a live game!