Welcome to Year 2
In Year 2 we strive to be the best we can be. We celebrate our successes no matter how small they are. Small feet grow to leave big footprints!
Year 2 is a very exciting year. After such a wonderfully, immersive experience in Reception and Year 1, we continue to develop our skills and knowledge in creative yet challenging ways.
We show resilience as we persevere when faced with new challenges. We work together in teams, communicating confidently and effectively in every lesson. Our moral compass is central to all that we do. It is these skills and values which guide us in our learning journey as we continue to grow and develop into caring citizens and members of our wider community.
In Year 2 we strive to be the best we can be. We celebrate our successes no matter how small they are. Small feet grow to leave big footprints!
Year 2 is a very exciting year. After such a wonderfully, immersive experience in Reception and Year 1, we continue to develop our skills and knowledge in creative yet challenging ways.
We show resilience as we persevere when faced with new challenges. We work together in teams, communicating confidently and effectively in every lesson. Our moral compass is central to all that we do. It is these skills and values which guide us in our learning journey as we continue to grow and develop into caring citizens and members of our wider community.
Reading
Year 2 is crucial in the development of children as readers. We continue to build on phonics and spelling from Year 1, as well as develop word reading and fluency. We do this by reading individually and in small groups regularly throughout the week. We also provide opportunities for improving reading and fluency skills during our whole class reading lessons through echo, choral and paired reading strategies. Whole class reading help us to develop core comprehension skills such as: draw on knowledge of vocabulary to understand texts, identify / explain key aspects of fiction and non-fiction texts, such as characters, events, titles and information, identify and explain the sequence of events in texts, make inferences from the text and predict what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far.
We read for pleasure every day. With an inviting reading area and fantastic reading resources in school our children have so many opportunities to get lost in a book!
Regular reading forms an essential element of learning at home as well as instilling in the children a love of literature and stories. We wholeheartedly recommend that you spend time enjoying and talking about books at home. We ask that your child reads at least four times a week at home and that they record this in their planner. Just 10 minutes a day can have a significant impact on academic attainment in the future, but more importantly create memories that will last a lifetime!
If you would like to read more with your child at home, please see suggested texts for a child in Year 2 here:
As your child progresses through phonics, they will become more competent reading a wider range of texts. If you are looking for early chapter books to challenge your child, click here:
Please speak to your child’s class teacher beforehand to see whether your child is ready for this next step.
For more chapter books to read with KS1 pupils, please click here:
For brand new books and ‘Books of the Month’ please head here:
Year 2 is crucial in the development of children as readers. We continue to build on phonics and spelling from Year 1, as well as develop word reading and fluency. We do this by reading individually and in small groups regularly throughout the week. We also provide opportunities for improving reading and fluency skills during our whole class reading lessons through echo, choral and paired reading strategies. Whole class reading help us to develop core comprehension skills such as: draw on knowledge of vocabulary to understand texts, identify / explain key aspects of fiction and non-fiction texts, such as characters, events, titles and information, identify and explain the sequence of events in texts, make inferences from the text and predict what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far.
We read for pleasure every day. With an inviting reading area and fantastic reading resources in school our children have so many opportunities to get lost in a book!
Regular reading forms an essential element of learning at home as well as instilling in the children a love of literature and stories. We wholeheartedly recommend that you spend time enjoying and talking about books at home. We ask that your child reads at least four times a week at home and that they record this in their planner. Just 10 minutes a day can have a significant impact on academic attainment in the future, but more importantly create memories that will last a lifetime!
If you would like to read more with your child at home, please see suggested texts for a child in Year 2 here:
As your child progresses through phonics, they will become more competent reading a wider range of texts. If you are looking for early chapter books to challenge your child, click here:
Please speak to your child’s class teacher beforehand to see whether your child is ready for this next step.
For more chapter books to read with KS1 pupils, please click here:
For brand new books and ‘Books of the Month’ please head here:

Writing
In KS1, we use high quality texts to inspire writing in a range of genres. We place a strong focus on understanding the grammar needed for building great sentences. We love using our ‘Mighty Writers’ to build and develop our ideas into sentences. The Mighty Writer is a tactical resource which provides a visual and engaging experience. Through collaboration and repetition children embed sentences orally which are then confidently transferred into writing.
In KS1, we use high quality texts to inspire writing in a range of genres. We place a strong focus on understanding the grammar needed for building great sentences. We love using our ‘Mighty Writers’ to build and develop our ideas into sentences. The Mighty Writer is a tactical resource which provides a visual and engaging experience. Through collaboration and repetition children embed sentences orally which are then confidently transferred into writing.
Spellings
In Year Two, we continue to build upon the phonics and spelling knowledge and rules learnt previously. We encourage the children to independently use this knowledge. alongside spelling aids around the classroom, to increase accuracy of spelling in all their written work. Spellings will be sent home weekly and stuck in their planner. We recommend learning spellings in sentences as well as using the app Spelling Shed.
In Year Two, we continue to build upon the phonics and spelling knowledge and rules learnt previously. We encourage the children to independently use this knowledge. alongside spelling aids around the classroom, to increase accuracy of spelling in all their written work. Spellings will be sent home weekly and stuck in their planner. We recommend learning spellings in sentences as well as using the app Spelling Shed.
aths
In Year Two, the children continue on their Mastery Maths journey in single class sets, building upon the foundations gained in Year One. We use the White Rose schemes of learning to support our planning for teaching and learning. Our planning builds upon previous learning in small steps which allows all children to develop fluency, reasoning and depth of understanding in mathematics. Year 2 will introduce the children to adding and subtracting two-digit numbers using practical apparatus, known facts and written methods. We teach the x2, x10, x5 and x3 times tables and introduce the children to Times Table Rockstars. Over the year, the children will develop their independent ability to reason and explain and solve problems.
In Year Two, the children continue on their Mastery Maths journey in single class sets, building upon the foundations gained in Year One. We use the White Rose schemes of learning to support our planning for teaching and learning. Our planning builds upon previous learning in small steps which allows all children to develop fluency, reasoning and depth of understanding in mathematics. Year 2 will introduce the children to adding and subtracting two-digit numbers using practical apparatus, known facts and written methods. We teach the x2, x10, x5 and x3 times tables and introduce the children to Times Table Rockstars. Over the year, the children will develop their independent ability to reason and explain and solve problems.
We also expect children in Year 2 to access Doodlemaths (an amazing personalised maths tuition app) at least 4 times a week or at least stay in the green zone and Times Table Rockstars at least 4 times a week.
Wider Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to develop the whole child and provide opportunities to harness and develop all talents and interests. Through provision and direct teaching we ensure all aspects of the curriculum are broad and balanced. We make use of a wide range of teaching and learning approaches that make use of our whole school environment and offer experiences and opportunities that develop their ‘Cultural Capital’. This is the knowledge that develops children into rounded individuals with a rich and deep understanding of the world around them.
Our curriculum is designed to develop the whole child and provide opportunities to harness and develop all talents and interests. Through provision and direct teaching we ensure all aspects of the curriculum are broad and balanced. We make use of a wide range of teaching and learning approaches that make use of our whole school environment and offer experiences and opportunities that develop their ‘Cultural Capital’. This is the knowledge that develops children into rounded individuals with a rich and deep understanding of the world around them.

Floor books
We take a lot of pride in our floorbook work and have developed our own version based on the founder Claire Walden’s approach. Floorbooks are a great way of recalling prior learning and really help us keep our knowledge sticky. Our children are so enthusiastic when showing their floorbook to visitors and parents. They can easily recall learning from many months ago when looking back through past floorbooks.
We take a lot of pride in our floorbook work and have developed our own version based on the founder Claire Walden’s approach. Floorbooks are a great way of recalling prior learning and really help us keep our knowledge sticky. Our children are so enthusiastic when showing their floorbook to visitors and parents. They can easily recall learning from many months ago when looking back through past floorbooks.

Parental Involvement
We value the importance of family partnerships and promote this throughout the year. Parents and other family members will be invited to be involved to share in their children’s learning at special events: look out for key dates on the newsletter and for letters and invitations to join us in school.
We value the importance of family partnerships and promote this throughout the year. Parents and other family members will be invited to be involved to share in their children’s learning at special events: look out for key dates on the newsletter and for letters and invitations to join us in school.
Curriculum News & Homework Resources:
Year 2 Long Term Plan Cycle A 2023/2024
Year 2 Writing Assessment Framework
Ready to Progress Criteria - Maths
Ready to Progress Criteria - Reading
Ready to Progress Criteria - Writing
Year 2 Long Term Plan Cycle A 2023/2024
Year 2 Writing Assessment Framework
Ready to Progress Criteria - Maths
Ready to Progress Criteria - Reading
Ready to Progress Criteria - Writing
Recommended Websites:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zjxhfg8
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting
https://www.mangahigh.com/
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/pages/library-page
https://www.j2e.com/jit5
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zjxhfg8
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting
https://www.mangahigh.com/
https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/pages/library-page
https://www.j2e.com/jit5
E-Safety
We regularly teach the children the importance of staying safe on the internet. We take part in e-safety day each year and it provides an opportunity for schools to make the most of the positive opportunities offered online, whilst giving young people the resilience, skills, knowledge and support they need to navigate any online risks they may come across. We also have weekly e-safety circle questions to broaden the children's thinking and raise important topics to keep them safe online.
By clicking on the link below you will see more about Internet Safety at Elloughton.
We regularly teach the children the importance of staying safe on the internet. We take part in e-safety day each year and it provides an opportunity for schools to make the most of the positive opportunities offered online, whilst giving young people the resilience, skills, knowledge and support they need to navigate any online risks they may come across. We also have weekly e-safety circle questions to broaden the children's thinking and raise important topics to keep them safe online.
By clicking on the link below you will see more about Internet Safety at Elloughton.