Year 2 – Autumn Newsletter 20 25

Dear parents/carers,

It has been great to meet some of you at the door over the past week. I look forward to meeting the rest of you over the coming term. I hope everyone had a lovely summer and the children are ready for all the fantastic learning coming up. They have already settled into Year 2 well. Please find below an outline of the curriculum we will be focusing on throughout Autumn Term.

English

In year 2 we will be exploring a variety of texts to support our reading, vocabulary and writing development. To begin with, our text will be ‘The Bear Under the Stairs’ by Helen Cooper this will support the children with letter writing and creating their own narratives. Through other aspects of the curriculum (science, geography, history etc.) we will be developing our non-narrative skills with information and instructions writing. Ensuring your child reads for at least 15 minutes a day will help their reading skills to develop along with discussions around the text read.

We will begin to learn how to join our writing, focusing on how to lead in and out of letters.

Maths

To begin the term, we will be looking at number systems with a focus on place value, addition and subtraction. We will be using a variety of equipment to help children build their practical mathematical skills to support problem solving and calculations. The children will also be developing their mathematical vocabulary to develop reasoning tasks.

History and Geography

We begin the year with a history topic; we will be exploring the Gunpowder Plot and begin to investigate timelines for significant events of the past. After half term, we will begin a geography topic on continents and oceans.

Science

Throughout the Autumn term we will be looking at the area of Science ‘Animals, including humans.’ Children will be introduced to life cycles, the basic needs of animals for survival (food, water, air) as well as the importance of exercise and nutrition for humans.

Computing

We will be starting with ‘how to stay safe online’ which will an ongoing theme throughout the school year. Then we will learn how to programme using the application ‘Scratch Junior’.

Art and Design Technology

In Art children will be introduced to sketching, shading and the work of Kumi Yamashita and her use of light and shadow in her work. Design Technology will be based around creating a fruit dessert for the Queen of Hearts.

Religious Education

This term our focus will be theology where we will be posing the question ‘Why is light an important symbol?’. We will explore the religions Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism to support our learning and responses to the question. We will also be exploring the British Value of tolerance.

PSHE

Our PSHE learning will lead us to think about families and people who care for us, revisiting the NSPCC PANTS and Speak Out, Stay Safe, consent (asking permission) and online safety.

Music

Year 2 Music this term is based around ‘Hands, Feet, Heart’ this focuses on body percussion and rhythm, pitch and pulse.

PE

This term’s PE topics are fundamental skills, ball skills and team building. Our usual PE days are Monday and Friday however, this can be subject to change. Therefore, all PE kits are to be kept in school, and will be sent home regularly for washing, please ensure they are back in school for Monday morning. Please check the uniform policy to ensure your child has the correct kit including a change of socks-particularly for girls if they will be wearing tights. Please ensure earrings are removed on PE days or that your child can do so independently at school.

Homework and Spellings

Please see Miss Morton’s email about the changes to homework. We will be in touch in due course to give further details.

Reading Books

Reading records are checked and books changed (as needed) daily. Please try to read with your child daily (including free readers), this will help their reading skills to develop as will discussions around the text. It is important that an adult records in the reading record every time your child reads at home, whether this is a schoolbook or a home book, please also indicate if the book is finished.

Snack   

We would like to encourage all children to bring in a snack for break time. It is a long time between breakfast and lunch; a snack makes a big difference to children’s concentration levels and ability to learn. As a healthy school we have agreed strict guidelines for the type of snack brought in, it must be fruit or vegetable in the form in which it grew (i.e. nothing added, not stretchy or made into a bar and wrapped). Children will be provided with a piece of fruit for their afternoon playtime.

Please ensure that children have a water bottle with them each day, these can be refilled in the classroom.

Sticker books

Every child has been given a sticker book. This is an individual reward incentive and not to be compared against other members of the class (the children are aware of this). On the first page the children needed 10 stickers to get a ‘prize’. After this, the children need 20 stickers on a page to get a reward. When a prize is given, a member of staff signs the page, and a new page is started. Prizes are only given out on a Friday.

Finally, please ensure all items of clothing, including PE kit, are labelled. It is so much easier to ensure children take home the correct uniform when it is named.

If you have any concerns or issues you would like to discuss regarding your child, please email the office and I will be in touch. I look forward to working with you and your children over the next year.

Kind Regards,

Miss Hagger