I’m Miss Watkins, and I’m so pleased to be continuing our learning journey together this half term. The children have made a fantastic start to Year 2, and Spring 2 is all about building on that progress with even more exciting opportunities to learn and grow.

This term, we’ll be placing a strong focus on phonics, reading, and vocabulary development. These are key areas that help children become confident communicators, and we’ll be supporting them through daily phonics sessions, regular reading practice, and lots of fun ways to explore new words.

Our learning will be guided by the WONDER curriculum, which encourages curiosity and creativity across all subjects. Whether we’re diving into traditional tales in English, exploring our local area in Geography, or tackling new challenges in Maths, we aim to make every lesson engaging and meaningful.

We continue to follow our RAISE values — Respect, Aspiration, Inclusivity, Service, and Empowerment — which help us create a classroom where every child feels safe, supported, and inspired to do their best.

I’m looking forward to another brilliant half term with your children. Thank you for your continued support — together, we’ll make Spring 2 a happy and successful time for everyone!

In Maths, our young learners will be building their confidence with addition and subtraction. We’ll be using tools like number bond diagrams and introducing the standard column method to help children solve problems step by step. Each lesson is carefully structured to build on previous learning, with plenty of practice and support to help every child feel successful.

In English, we have two exciting writing units:

Non-Fiction Focus: A Farmer’s Diary (Recount Writing)
Children will imagine life as a farmer and learn how to write a recount using our Recount Toolkit. They’ll practise writing in the past tense, using time connectives, and adding personal thoughts and feelings to make their writing engaging. This links beautifully with our Geography topic on farms, giving their writing a real-world purpose.

Fiction Focus: Jack and the Beanstalk (Rags to Riches Tale)
We’ll be exploring the classic tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, focusing on how to build suspense and use descriptive language, cliffhangers, and powerful verbs. Children will also get the chance to create their own versions of the story, developing their creativity and storytelling skills.

Throughout the term, we’ll continue to support children in building their vocabulary, improving sentence structure, and growing in confidence with both spoken and written English. We can’t wait to see their ideas come to life!

Here’s what we’ll be exploring across the curriculum this half term:

• Science – Minibeasts
  We’ll be investigating the fascinating world of minibeasts, learning about their habitats, life cycles, and the important roles they play in nature.

• R.E – Christianity
  Our focus will be on Christianity, where children will explore key beliefs and stories, and think about what they can learn from them.

• Geography – Settlements and Farming
  We’ll be looking at different types of settlements and how farming shapes the land and the lives of people who live there.

• Art – Creativity Focus
  Children will be encouraged to express themselves through a range of creative activities, exploring colour, texture, and imaginative ideas.

• Computing – Digital Photography
  We’ll be learning how to take and edit digital photographs, thinking about composition and how images can tell a story.

• PSHRE – Relationships
  Our PSHRE lessons will focus on building positive relationships, understanding feelings, and learning how to care for ourselves and others.

P.E. and Forest School – Spring 2

Our P.E. days this half term are Mondays and Wednesdays, so please make sure children come to school in their P.E. kits on those days, ready for active and fun sessions.

There will be no Forest School this half term, but we’ll still be spending time outdoors whenever we can, making the most of fresh air and nature in other ways.

Homework this term will include Maths and spellings on Emile, so please check the platform regularly for updates and tasks.

Reading remains a top priority. It’s really important to read with your child every day and return their reading book to school daily. Just 20 minutes of reading at home each day can make a huge difference to vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence. When children read for pleasure and choose books they enjoy, they’re more likely to develop a lifelong love of reading — something that supports both academic success and emotional wellbeing. Regular visits to the library are a fantastic way to encourage this habit, giving children access to a wide range of books and sparking new interests.

We also have Talk Task homework, designed to help children remember their “sticky knowledge” — the key facts and concepts they’ve been learning in class. Each week, your child will bring home 3–4 facts to discuss with you. Talking about these ideas helps reinforce understanding and makes learning stick!

Upcoming Events and Clubs:

11/11 - Remembrance day

17/11 - Meet the teacher day

21/11 - Children in Needs

27/11 - Parliament week

10/12 - Winter Song Concert

10/12 - Christmas parties

11/12 - Christmas Jumper Day

11/12 - Christmas Craft Afternoon