Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome to the new academic year at Edward the Elder! We hope you have all had a relaxing Summer and are ready to welcome the children back into a settled routine. We are aware that Year 2 brings new challenges and new learning; however, with everyone’s support, we know the children can succeed!
I am very excited to be the Year 2 teacher this year. I am really looking forward to working with all the children and hope to create some exciting learning opportunities for them all! Supporting us in Year 2 this year will be our Teaching Assistants Mrs Atkinson-Brooks, who the children know extremely well as well as Mrs Reed at specific times during the week. We will also continue to have the support of Mrs Krishan. To provide you with as much information as possible, I have attached a copy of the Year 2 timetable. This gives a brief outline of the children’s day but should only be viewed as a guide as it is subject to change throughout the year!
The autumn term is always a busy time for children in Year 2. In English, we will be concentrating on using specific text features as well as grammar, punctuation, handwriting and spelling. Children will have the opportunity to practise these skills across a range of different texts including information texts, stories, and poems. In Maths, we will begin the term focusing on place value and securing your child’s knowledge of this. Continuing on from Year 1, we will have an arithmetic lesson each week and will also give children the opportunity to tackle their times table superheroes.
We have some fantastic themes planned for Year 2 this year – starting with the Autumn Term; our first exciting theme is ‘Inter-Nation Media Station’ which will be introduced through an ‘Inspiration Day’ on Monday. During the theme, children will learn about the history of sharing news, create a jingle, and develop their communication skills – we will keep you updated with all of our exciting new learning and ideas relating to this!
Purple creative homework books will continue this year – creative homework aims to consolidate as well as extend the children’s learning. Children will continue to receive reading books linked to their ability from school which can be changed once completed, we expect books to be changed weekly. We remind you that children’s books need to be in school every day. We would also encourage you to write a comment in their reading records regularly, building your child’s confidence and the link between home and school. Any extra practise at home is always welcome! Please support your child by encouraging them to read the words using their phonics skills.
During the Autumn Term, phonics will continue to take place within our class through ‘Floppy’s Phonics’ scheme and children will receive spellings linked to this on a Friday alongside age-related spellings. These will both be tested the following Friday. Please encourage practicing both sets of spellings at home.
PE will take place on a Tuesday and Wednesday; please ensure your child has the correct PE kit in school. White round neck t-shirt, shorts (black or navy) and black pumps. Both PE sessions will be taught by Mrs Harper and will cover a range of skills. It would also be appreciated if all uniform (including PE kit and pumps) is labelled with the children’s full name and class. Please can we remind parents and carers that jewellery should not be worn in school with the exception of stud earrings, and in line with Health and Safety guidelines, these should not be worn on PE days. Children may be asked to remove earrings before PE sessions. Long hair should also be tied back in preparation for PE.
Please note Year 2 will enter the main gate at 8:45am and anyone arriving after 8:55am will be marked as late. Children should be collected from our external classroom door at 3:15pm. We cannot allow children to walk home with a different adult without verbal or written consent from parents/carers who usually collect them.
A reminder that if your child is asthmatic, please ensure an in-date inhaler and spacer is present in school at all times. Please ensure you have informed the office with any updated medical information.
We are really looking forward to working with you over the next year to ensure your children have a successful year full of exciting learning and progress. If you have any questions or queries now or at any time throughout the year, please do not hesitate to speak to me either after school or by making an appointment via the school office.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Kilpatrick
Year 2 Teacher
