Year 2

We are so pleased with how well the children have settled into the Autumn Term. They are already finding their feet with the new routines and expectations of Year 2, and we are really proud of the positive start they’ve made. Year 2 is a step up from Year 1, with more independence and challenge, and it’s also an important year as we begin preparing the children for Key Stage 2.

In English, we are diving into the wonderful world of Traditional Tales. The children are retelling familiar stories, exploring the characters and settings that make them so memorable, and thinking about the morals these tales often carry. They will also begin to adapt and invent their own versions, which is a great way to build imagination, sentence skills and confidence in writing.

In Maths, our focus is on Place Value. We are working on recognising the importance of tens and ones, ordering and comparing numbers, and using this knowledge to tackle more challenging problems. Building a secure understanding of place value is a key foundation for everything else in Maths this year, so we’ll be revisiting and practising these skills regularly.

Our Geography topic, The UK and London, brings us closer to home. The children will learn about the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, identify capital cities, and explore what makes London such a significant and exciting place. From famous landmarks to important cultural traditions, we will be encouraging the children to connect what they know about their local area to the wider world.

In PE, we are focusing on Gymnastics. This half term, the children are learning to move with control and coordination, exploring balances, rolls and sequences both on the floor and on apparatus. Gymnastics is not only great fun but also helps to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience as the children challenge themselves physically.

As you can see, there is lots of exciting learning happening in Year 2, and the children are already rising to the challenge. To help them make the most of this, the most valuable support at home is regular reading practice and completing the Four in a Row grids in their reading journals. A little extra practice with place value or early times tables will also go a long way in boosting their confidence.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the Academy office. We are really looking forward to a happy, productive and exciting year ahead with the children.

 The Year 2 team

Mrs M Lindsay 2L Class Teacher Phase Leader Years 1 & 2	Miss K Saleem 2S Class Teacher

	Picture coming soon]
Mrs C Stanley 2L Teaching Assistant	Mrs J Smart 2L Teaching Assistant	Miss N Fisher 2S Teaching Assistant	Miss R Dixon 2S Teaching Assistant

Your child's class teacher should always be the first port of call when communicating with the school, however our amazing Teaching Assistants are often on the door during the start of the day and dismissal - they are always happy to help or pass messages on for you.

Reading

“To learn to read, is to light a fire.” – Victor Hugo

Reading is an essential skill that opens doors to every area of learning. Daily reading not only strengthens fluency, but also broadens vocabulary, sparks imagination and drastically improves writing.

Each week your child will bring home two banded reading books matched to their level, and one library book to enjoy for pleasure. Banded books are changed weekly on a set day by an adult in class, while library books are swapped on class library days (Friday for 2L and Monday for 2S). If books are forgotten on the day, please send them in the next day and we will change them as soon as possible.

Reading together at home is one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s progress. We ask that children read at home five times a week, and that any reading – whether school books or your own at home – is recorded in their Reading Journal. Where possible, please encourage your child to take responsibility for writing in their journal at least twice a week, as this helps build independence. Journals should still be signed by an adult.

This year we are also introducing our exciting Four in a Row challenge! Each week, children can complete short reading tasks from the grid in their journals and cross them off as they go. Once they achieve four in a row, they are entered into a special prize draw with Mr Jackson. It’s a brilliant way to foster independence, celebrate effort and, most importantly, develop a lifelong love of reading.

Recommended Books for Year 2

Spellings

Spellings are taught three times a week, consisting of 10 minute lessons that offer the children quick challenges that allow them to apply their knowledge of spelling rules.  This regular practised aims to unpick parts of words that cause spelling mistakes. We also create rhymes, mnemonics and different 'memory hacks' to help the spelling stick! 

If you wish to practice spellings at home, the 200 high frequency words or Year 2 common exception words are a great place to start. There are also a whole host of resources on the internet with one simple search. 

We will be looking at our Year 2 phonics until February, just to make sure those skills are embedded after a lot of hard work throughout Year 1.