Year 2

There are two Year 2 classes and there are two full time teaching assistants across both classes. During your child’s time in Year 2, we encourage them to become more independent and strive to do their very best in all they attempt.

Every morning, the pupils have an English reading, writing and mathematics lesson. The scheme that we use for early reading is called ‘Read Write Inc.’ and all children complete this scheme before moving on to reading comprehension lessons. Mathematics is taught through the White Rose scheme. Further information about our curriculum is detailed below.

Letters to parents

Letters that have been circulated to parents are available for you to view and download here.

Times of a school day

These are the times that apply to a Year 2 pupil’s school day.

  • 08:45: school gates open
  • 08:45: pupils enter classrooms for registration via St James Lane gate by the crossing patrol
  • 10:45 ‐ 11:00: break
  • 12:00 ‐ 13:00: lunch
  • 15:25: end of school Day

Morning routine

Pupils enter the school directly via their classroom door at 08:45. We ask all of our parents to be prompt as the morning is a useful time for settling the pupils into good routines. We also use this time for target work and assessment.

Punctuality

Please click here for our expectations of punctuality with arrival & collection of your child.

Teachers

  • Mr Whitney – 2A Class Teacher
  • Ms Chapman – 2 Alpha Class Teacher

PE (Physical Education)

Pupils have PE on a Monday morning and a Tuesday afternoon. They can attend school on Monday and Tuesday mornings wearing a suitable, plain black or grey tracksuit or jogging bottoms/t-shirt.

Homework

We believe that learning to read and spell are the most important things your child does at school. Pupils are heard to read in school, but as well as this we expect parents to hear their children read a minimum of 3 times a week for at least 5 minutes and sign the reading diary. Children are rewarded in school if they complete their home reading at least 3 times per week. Also, we expect your child to practice their spellings at least 3 times a week, as they are tested on a Thursday. In addition to this, we expect your child to be practicing both their times tables and number bonds regularly. Pupils can use Spelling Frame and Times Table Rockstars to help practice these skills.

Pupils will have an additional piece of homework to complete related to what has been taught during the week. Homework is given out on a Friday and is due back the following Friday.

Curriculum information

English

  • Autumn: In the Autumn Term, Year 2 pupils will be exposed to a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts. After securing our basics of writing sentences, children learn how to construct whole texts, including writing letters, information texts and stories.
  • Spring: In the Spring Term, Year 2 will study inventors and explorers, in particular studying Frank Whittle, with a trip to the West Midlands air museum to consolidate this learning. They will learn to read and write longer texts and stories. Pupils have a big focus on Grammar and grammatical accuracy this term to ensure that they are fully prepared for their SATs.
  • Summer: In Summer Term, pupils will have a focus on Coasts for their Humanities and work with two books which are closely related to this topic. They will learn how to write successful and coherent texts that prepare them for the move to Key Stage 2.

Maths

The following strands will be covered across the three terms, following the White Rose scheme:

  • Autumn: Place value, Addition and Subtraction, and Shape
  • Spring: Money, Multiplication and Division, Length and Height, and Mass, Capacity and Temperature
  • Summer: Fractions, Time, Statistics, and Position and Direction

Times tables will also be practiced on a daily basis alongside the above units.

Humanities (Geography and History)

  • Autumn: This term children learn about the countries of the United Kingdom, before learning about the Great Fire of London
  • Spring: This term the pupils will focus on a History topic relating to Sir Frank Whittle and links to the first aeroplane flight, as well as space travel and exploration.
  • Summer: This term the focus is on Geography, and learning about the locations of mountains, rivers and coasts.

Computing

  • Autumn: Pupils will be looking at online safety and learning to keep information private. They will also learn about simple programming using a range of gadgets and devices.
  • Spring: Pupils will learn to take photographs and edit them. They will also learn to research using search engines.
  • Summer: They will have the opportunity to handle different forms of data and then create their own database.

Science

  • Autumn: The pupils explore materials in this unit, they classify them and learn which materials change shape through twisting, bending and stretching. They carry out investigations to discover what materials are suitable for different purposes.
  • Spring: The unit is Animals including Humans. This is where the children find out what animals, including humans need to survive. There explore the importance of exercise and eating a healthy diet.
  • Summer: The unit is about plants. The children grow their own plants, explore the science garden, make observations and carry out simple experiments.

Art and Design & Technology

  • Autumn: The pupils construct a model exploring ways of joining 2D and 3D materials.
  • Spring: The pupils plan, make and evaluate a project. They make an alien using a running stitch technique. They also use different techniques to make a sandwich.
  • Summer: The pupils learn how to make a winding mechanism and construct a vehicle with an axle.

PSHE

  • Autumn:
    • Me and My Community: Where do I belong?
    • Me and My Feelings: What are feelings like?
  • Spring:
    • Me and My Health: How can we stay healthy?
    • Me and My Relationships: What is bullying?
  • Summer:
    • Me and My Safety: How can I keep myself safe outside?
    • Me and My Relationships: What does personal mean?

RE

  • Autumn: In this unit we explore ‘Who are Muslims and what do they believe?’
  • Spring: This unit is about ‘How should we care for others and the world, and why does it matter?’ We also explore How and why we celebrate special and scared times.
  • Summer: In the summer, we explore how we can learn from scared books and What it means to belong to a faith community. We will visit a church and a Mosque during this term to embed that knowledge.

For more information about the strands please click the National Curriculum link at the bottom of this page.

Other Information

Drinks and Fruit

Pupils are provided with a bagel when arriving to school and a piece of fruit each breaktime, therefore they do not need to bring in a snack.

We ask parents to provide a water bottle, filled with fresh water each day so that pupils have access to a drink. These can be refilled in school. Please label the water bottles and ensure no juice is being brought in.

What you child needs to bring to school each day

Reading book and diary

Water bottle

Please do not send toys to school as pupils get very upset if they become lost.

What to do if you have a problem

If you need to inform us that someone else is collecting your child that day or something else that may affect your child’s school day – please tell us first thing in the morning at the door.

If you wish to talk to us about something that requires a longer conversation – please make an appointment to see us after school.

Thank you very much for all your support.


The national curriculum

Key stage 1 and 2
(Gov.uk – Childcare and parenting)


National curriculum in England

Primary curriculum (key stages 1 and 2)