Year 2

Our Year 2 Curriculum

Year 2 is an exciting and important year as children build on the strong foundations developed in Key Stage 1 and prepare for the transition into Key Stage 2. Our curriculum is designed to develop confident, independent learners through a balance of high-quality direct teaching, purposeful practice and engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

Each day, children take part in direct teaching sessions in Phonics, Reading, English and Mathematics. These lessons introduce new knowledge and skills, provide opportunities for guided practice and ensure children develop fluency and confidence in the core areas of learning. As children become increasingly independent readers, phonics teaching continues for those who need it, while others develop their comprehension, vocabulary and reading fluency through whole-class reading lessons.

Learning is enriched through a broad and engaging curriculum that makes meaningful links across subjects wherever possible. Children are encouraged to apply their knowledge through practical activities, investigations, collaborative learning and real-life contexts. We believe that children learn best when they are actively involved in their learning, ask questions and are challenged to think deeply.

Throughout the year, children revisit and build upon previously taught knowledge to strengthen their understanding and support long-term retention. High expectations, clear routines and a nurturing environment help every child to develop resilience, curiosity and a love of learning.

Our aim is for every child to leave Year 2 as a confident learner, equipped with the knowledge, skills and independence needed to thrive as they move into Key Stage 2.

Autumn Term 2

In Term 2, it has been lovely to see how confidently the children have settled into Year 2. Building on the strong start they made at the beginning of the year, they have developed growing independence, resilience and confidence in their learning. With routines and expectations firmly established, the children are embracing new challenges with enthusiasm, strengthening friendships and becoming increasingly responsible for their own learning. We are incredibly proud of the positive attitude they bring to school each day and the excellent progress they continue to make.

In English, we are building on the strong foundations in writing established at the start of the year. Through a range of engaging, high-quality texts, the children are growing in confidence as writers and are applying their skills in sentence structure, punctuation, handwriting and vocabulary across different types of writing. It has been wonderful to see their creativity flourish, and we are so proud of the enthusiasm and pride they show as they develop their ideas and become increasingly independent writers.

                                                                                     

Our Phonics programme continues for children who still need to secure their phonics knowledge, while other children take part in daily reading lessons that develop fluency, comprehension and a deeper understanding of a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. These daily Phonics sessions also provide a basis for children to develop their spellings skills by applying Phonics knowledge.

In Maths, we are continuing to build on the strong mathematical foundations established at the start of the year through the White Rose Maths scheme. Through our work on place value, addition and subtraction, the children are developing their mathematical skills and reasoning, becoming more confident in explaining their thinking and solving problems.

Across the wider curriculum, the children have been exploring a wide range of subjects. In History, they are exploring how schools have changed since the past and using this as an opportunity to explore people’s experience of Clarendon School previously. Whilst in DT, they are exploring different types of mechanisms through Fairground rides.  

                                               

Autumn Term 1

Autumn Term 1 is an exciting opportunity for children to settle into Year 2, reconnect with friends and establish the routines and expectations that will support a successful year of learning. During the first few weeks, we focus on building confidence, independence and resilience while creating a positive classroom community where every child feels valued and ready to learn.

In English, we begin the year by revisiting key writing skills, developing sentence structure, punctuation and handwriting while encouraging children to write with increasing confidence and creativity. High-quality texts inspire our learning, helping children to develop a rich vocabulary and a love of reading and writing.

Our Phonics programme continues for children who still need to secure their phonics knowledge, while other children take part in daily reading lessons that develop fluency, comprehension and a deeper understanding of a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

In Mathematics, we follow the White Rose Maths scheme, beginning with place value to strengthen children's understanding of numbers before moving on to addition and subtraction. Lessons include practical resources, mathematical reasoning and problem-solving to help children explain their thinking and apply their learning in different contexts.

Across the wider curriculum, children enjoy engaging topics that encourage curiosity, creativity and enquiry. Learning is carefully planned to make meaningful connections between subjects wherever possible, giving children opportunities to apply their knowledge through practical investigations, discussion and collaborative activities.

        

      Science - Habitats           Geograhy - What is it like here?      Art - Sculpture and 3D

Throughout the term, we continue to nurture independence, resilience and a growth mindset, encouraging children to challenge themselves, persevere when learning is difficult and take pride in all they achieve. Our aim is for every child to enjoy learning, develop confidence in their abilities and make a positive start to their Year 2 journey.