1. Year 2 Autumn Newsletter
Welcome to Year 2!
Our Autumn newsletter will give you an idea about what we will be covering in class and what your children will be learning this term.
Numeracy
Children will be covering the Year 2 curriculum which include Number, Geometry, Measurement and Statistics. Your child will continue to be tracked very carefully during numeracy this year and will be assessed termly. Weekly homework will reinforce learning from the week.
Literacy
There is now a greater emphasis on spelling, grammar and punctuation and this content will be taught throughout Year 2 in preparations for the end of year assessments.
Your child will continue to be assessed on their ability to read and spell key words which will be set as weekly spelling homework. We would greatly encourage you to help your child to learn them to ensure continued progress.
Your child has also been given a reading book which has been matched to their current reading stage. We encourage the children in Year 2 to read at least 3 times a week and we ask for their reading book to be returned to school on a daily basis, signed by an adult to say that they have read. Assessment and learning of new reading skills is largely covered during regular, one-to-one and group guided reading sessions.
Extra phonic and reading intervention is given to those children who are having difficulty in learning phonic patterns to secure their understanding and parents will be informed if their child is taking part in one of these sessions.
Computing
This term children will be working on their basic skills for word processing. Next half term, children will be looking at coding using a specialist programme package provided by Purple Mash. They will examine what coding is, learn how to create and debug algorithms and create their own working programmes.
Year 2 Autumn
Newsletter PE
We are lucky enough to have a specialist P.E. Coach this year who will be leading the Year 2 P.E. curriculum. This half term children will be working on a multi-skills topic in which they work on balance, hand-eye coordination (throwing and catching), agility and team work. After half term we will be concentrating on gymnastic skills. As always we ask that your child’s uniform is clearly labelled with their name. Kits should be brought to school on a Monday and taken home on a Friday to be washed. 
Science
During the first half term we will be learning about materials and their properties and how we use them. Children will also learn about natural and man-made materials. Additionally, the children will be carrying out an investigation into which materials would be best for a given purpose and will work on their understanding of fair testing. After half term, we will be looking at forces and carrying out our own investigations with rockets. We will also begin to look at and investigate friction.

2. Homework set Fridays to be returned the following Thursday.
Geography
At the start of the year, Y2 will be focussing on the country of Germany. Within this topic, children will develop their geographical knowledge and understanding, including physical and human features, and be introduced to some of the country’s culture and traditions. They will also compare London to Berlin with focus on landmarks and buildings.
Later in the term, we will be locating the countries within the British Isles and the surrounding seas and oceans. In addition to this, children will learn about the 7 continents and will be able to locate them on a world map.
Finally, we will be completing a topic about our school grounds and looking at grid referencing.
R.E.
This half term, children will be learning about Judaism and thinking about special books and sacred texts. After half term, children will be looking at Christianity and why and how Christians prepare and celebrate Christmas.
Art & D.T.
This term, children will produce artwork using a range of media using collage, sketching, oil pastels and paints. They will also be making models of towers for a purpose and creating sculptures using clay.
In addition to this, the children will be creating a range of Christmas crafts.
Music
This half term term, children will be learning to play the recorder and to follow rhythms and patterns.
In the run up to Christmas, children will be learning to sing and perform together.
History
In History this term our topic is Towers, Tunnels and Turrets. We will be looking at the evolution of castles over the years and children will learn to identify the key parts of a castle and be able to explain how they were used. Additionally, we will discuss what it would have been like to live in a castle and compare life in the past to the present day.
Within this topic, we will also be learning about The Great Fire of London, The Gunpowder Plot, followed by why we celebrate Remembrance Day.
Homework
In order to reinforce and maintain the progress your child makes in school each week, the following homework will be given on a weekly basis:
One piece of Literacy.
One piece of Maths.
Spellings – tested weekly. (Wednesday)
Times Tables – tested weekly. (Monday)
We encourage you to support your child to complete and return homework by the day stated.
Homework set Fridays to be returned the following Thursday.