Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 12th December 2025  

What we have been learning this week... 

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

How you can help...

 I’d like to apologise for not sending the homework books out last week. This week’s homework will go home on Friday and will be the final set before the Christmas holidays. Just a gentle reminder that homework is sent home each Friday and should be returned by the following Wednesday. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Thank you for all your support and as always if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to email me. 

Next week, we will be...

Next week in English, we will be concluding our diary-writing unit. The children will bring together all the skills they have practised the past weeks to complete their final diary entries, focusing on clear sentence structure, accurate punctuation, and thoughtful presentation.

In Maths, we will be finishing our Geometry unit. The children will consolidate their learning by revisiting key concepts and applying their understanding of shapes through a range of activities.

Alongside this, we will also be enjoying some festive Christmas crafts in class. On Monday afternoon, we are looking forward to joining Willow class for a special Christingle event, which we’re sure the children will really enjoy.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 5th December 2025  

What we have been learning this week... 

What a busy ,exciting week we have had in Hazel class this week!

In English this week, we’ve been using our knowledge from our History topic on the Great Fire of London to help us imagine what it would have been like to be there. The children explored the key features of a diary and discussed what makes diary writing feel personal and real. Together, we practised writing in the past tense and first person, learning how to describe events, thoughts, and feelings as if we were experiencing the fire ourselves. The class worked brilliantly, and these skills have prepared us well to begin writing our own Great Fire of London diaries next week.

In Maths this week, we’ve begun our new geometry topic, and the children have really enjoyed exploring shapes in the world around them. They have been identifying and naming a range of 2D and 3D shapes, counting their sides and vertices, and comparing their properties. We also started to investigate symmetry by looking closely at 2D shapes and finding lines of symmetry. The children were enthusiastic and curious, using hands-on resources and partner discussions to build their understanding. They have made a great start to our new topic and are already showing strong shape-spotting skills.

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

This week has been especially exciting as the children took part in their first performance of their nativity in costume. Their enthusiasm was infectious—they were so proud to dress up, step onto the stage, and share what they’ve been practising. It was wonderful to see their confidence shine as they performed so beautifully. They did incredibly well, and we can’t wait to share their performance with you next week. Well done Hazel and Willow class!

This week in Science, we continued our learning about healthy eating and explored the five food groups. The children learned what each group provides for our bodies and why a balanced diet is important. They then had the chance to sort different foods into their correct categories, thinking carefully about where each item belonged and discussing their choices with partners. The class showed great curiosity and worked thoughtfully as they learned how to make healthy choices.

How you can help...

The nativity countdown is officially on and we cannot wait to share our performance with you! Just a reminder we have 2 shows; one on Wednesday 10th December at 2pm and one Thursday 11th December at 6pm. For the evening performance, could children please arrive around 5:30pm to ensure we have enough time to change and get ourselves ready. After the performance, all the children will head back to Hazel class to collect their belongings and will be dismissed from the front of the school as quickly as possible.  

I wanted to say a big thank you for all your hamper donations! We have a lovely (blue) hamper ready for Christmas Capers this weekend! 

Please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. We encourage children to take responsibility for letting me know when they need a new book, helping them to read at their own pace. Reading together at home is extremely valuable, whether it’s their school book, a library book, a magazine, or any other reading material — every form of reading supports their growth and confidence as a reader.

Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday.

Thank you for all your support and as always if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to email me. 

Next week, we will be...

Next week in English, we will be continuing to use the skills we have practised this week to begin writing our Great Fire of London diary entries. The children will use their knowledge from History to imagine what it might have been like to experience the fire, drawing on the past tense, first person, and descriptive detail we have been working on. They will focus on capturing events and emotions clearly while practising accurate sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and presentation to create vivid, engaging diary writing.

In Maths, we will be continuing our Geometry unit, moving on to explore 3D shapes. The children will be identifying and describing their faces, edges, and vertices, as well as comparing and sorting different 3D shapes. This part of the unit will give them plenty of opportunities to apply their knowledge, make careful observations, and use mathematical vocabulary as they deepen their understanding of shapes.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 28th November 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

This week has been filled with wonderful moments that highlight just how amazing the children are. From showing kindness to their peers to working hard during lessons, they’ve demonstrated responsibility, creativity, and enthusiasm in everything they do. It has been amazing seeing their confidence grow—whether it was tackling a new challenge, helping a friend, or sharing thoughtful ideas during class discussions. Each child has shown something to be proud of, and I am delighted to celebrate their progress and positive attitudes. Well done, everyone!

In English this week, we’ve been exploring the wonderful world of postcards, using Meerkat Mail as our inspiration. After receiving an exciting postcard from Sunny, the children stepped into the role of thoughtful writers, imagining what they might say back to him. They shared ideas, discussed the features of a postcard and what makes it exciting, and practised using expanded noun phrases to add detail to their writing. We also introduced the future tense, helping the children explain what Sunny will do and see in their replies. The class then put everything together to craft their own polished postcards—full of warmth, creativity, and meerkat-sized enthusiasm.

In Maths this week, we’ve been rounding off our addition and subtraction unit, and the children have tackled the final challenges with real confidence. They’ve been comparing addition statements, working out missing numbers, and building fluency with both 1-digit and 2-digit calculations. This has really helped them deepen their understanding of number relationships and choose efficient strategies. The children enjoyed discussing their thinking with partners and checking their ideas together, showing great perseverance as they refined their skills. They are now able to use lots of different tools to help them with these calculations. 

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

This week in Science, the children continued their Animals Including Humans unit by exploring the importance of exercise for our bodies and minds. We carried out a series of mini-experiments where the children tried different types of exercises — from star jumps to jogging on the spot — and then reflected on how each activity made them feel. They talked about changes in their breathing, heart rate, and energy levels, as well as how exercise can lift our mood and help our brains feel more alert. There were lots of thoughtful observations about feeling stronger, calmer, or more focused after moving their bodies, and the children were brilliant at linking this to both physical and mental health.

This week in History, the children explored how London was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666. We learned about the challenges the city faced and the important changes that were introduced to make London safer. The children stepped into the shoes of Sir Christopher Wren, imagining themselves as designers tasked with creating a new, improved London. They carefully considered the new regulations — wider streets to stop fires spreading, sturdy stone houses instead of timber, and safer tile roofs — before designing their very own maps of a rebuilt London. It was wonderful to see their creativity and problem-solving skills as they planned thoughtful, fire-safe city layouts.

How you can help...

You should have received a email regarding the Christmas Nativity and how you can arrange to come and see. We can't wait to show you! Please could each child's costume be in school in a named bag by Monday 1st December. 

We now have our Christmas Caper Hamper box ready and would be grateful for any blue-themed donations you’re able to send in. Chocolates, drinks, smellies—anything you think fits the theme (and is nut-free!) would be very much appreciated.

Just a friendly reminder to please send in healthy snacks for the children to enjoy during the day. Thank you for helping us keep everyone fuelled and focused!

Please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. We encourage children to take responsibility for letting me know when they need a new book, helping them to read at their own pace. Reading together at home is extremely valuable, whether it’s their school book, a library book, a magazine, or any other reading material — every form of reading supports their growth and confidence as a reader.

Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday.

Thank you for all your support and as always if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to email me. 

Next week, we will be...

Next week in English, we are starting a unit on diary writing, linking closely with our History learning. The children are using what they have discovered about the Great Fire of London to inspire their own diary entries, imagining what it would have been like to be there on that day. They are focusing on capturing events and emotions in detail, while practising clear sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and presentation to make their writing engaging and vivid.

In Maths, we will be starting our new Geometry unit. The children will begin by recognising and naming a range of 2D and 3D shapes before taking a deeper dive into the features of 2D shapes. They will be exploring the number of sides and vertices each shape has, as well as investigating lines of symmetry. This unit will give them plenty of opportunities to build their mathematical vocabulary, make careful observations, and apply their knowledge as they compare and sort different shapes.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 21st November 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

What a busy week we have had in Hazel Class!

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

 This week the children have really enjoyed continuing their science unit on Animals Including Humans. We took a deep dive into different life cycles and compared the life cycle of a chicken with the life cycle of a human — which led to some brilliant conversations. The children chatted about how chickens hatch from eggs while humans grow inside their mothers, and they loved talking about the different stages each one goes through as they grow. There was lots of curiosity about chicks turning fluffy, humans learning to walk, and how both species slowly become more independent over time. It was lovely hearing them make thoughtful connections, spot similarities and differences, and share all the fascinating facts they’ve picked up along the way.

How you can help...

Next week, an email will be sent with details about the Christmas nativity and ticket availability. You are welcome to start bringing in your child’s costume. Please place each costume in a named bag to help us keep everything organised and avoid any mix-ups.

Please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. We encourage children to take responsibility for letting me know when they need a new book, helping them to read at their own pace. Reading together at home is extremely valuable, whether it’s their school book, a library book, a magazine, or any other reading material — every form of reading supports their growth and confidence as a reader.

Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday.

Random Request: We are starting to plan some Christmas crafts as the big day gets closer, and the children are excited to create some beautiful decorations to take home. If you happen to have any smooth pebbles or stones at home, we would love for you to send them in to help with our projects!

Thank you for all your support and as always if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to email me. 

Next week, we will be...

This week, we are starting work on Traction Man! The children are diving into the story, exploring the characters, and thinking about how they can describe them in detail. We’ll also be innovating our own stories inspired by Traction Man, paying careful attention to sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and presentation to make our writing clear and engaging.

In Maths, we will be concluding our focus on addition and subtraction. The children have been working on subtracting two-digit numbers and consolidating the strategies and skills they have been practising throughout the topic. They are becoming more confident in choosing the most effective method for each calculation and using their understanding of place value to solve problems accurately. This final stage allows them to demonstrate their growing independence and apply their knowledge in a variety of challenges.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 14th November 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

What a busy and exciting week we’ve had in Hazel Class! The children have shown fantastic effort and focus during their assessments, demonstrating just how much progress they have made. It has been wonderful to see their hard work paying off and their confidence growing day by day.

One of the highlights of the week was the “Big Write” activity. The children were inspired by a short clip called Taking Flight and created their own imaginative stories. They really enjoyed bringing their ideas to life, carefully using adjectives, expanded noun phrases, and prepositions to make their writing more vivid and detailed. Their stories were full of creativity, showing how the children are developing their storytelling skills and expressing themselves with confidence. In Maths this week, we have continued our work on subtraction, building on the children’s understanding of number relationships. The children have been learning to subtract across 10 and to subtract a one-digit number from a two-digit number. They have been exploring different strategies, such as using number lines, partitioning, and visual resources, to help spot patterns and calculate accurately. The children have shown great perseverance as they tackle increasingly challenging problems, explain their thinking, and develop confidence in choosing the most efficient strategies to find their answers.

This week, we have continued our history topic on the Great Fire of London. The children explored how people tried to put the fire out and compared these methods to how we would tackle a fire today. Through drama activities, cutting, and sticking, they recreated key events and thought carefully about the challenges people faced. It has been wonderful to see their curiosity and creativity as they bring this historical event to life.

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

This week, we have continued our Nativity preparations! The children have been practising the songs and taking part in full run-throughs of the performance, working alongside Year 1s. The story is really coming to life as they focus on remembering their lines and performing with confidence. They have shown fantastic teamwork by supporting one another, listening carefully, and taking turns on stage. Their enthusiasm and effort are shining through, and we can’t wait to share their wonderful performance with everyone!

We have also continued our D.T. project this week. The children have been building their own axles and wheels for their toy vehicles, putting their designs into action. They are now moving on to the decoration stage next week, adding finishing touches to make their models unique and creative.

How you can help...

A letter will be sent home this Friday with details about your child’s role in the Nativity, along with some suggestions for costumes. Please hold off on sending in costumes for now, as we will begin collecting them towards the end of the month. Your child’s lines will also be included, giving them the opportunity to practise at home at their own pace.

Please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. As a class, we are encouraging the children to become more independent in letting me know when they need a new book. This approach helps ensure that children can continue to read at their own pace, as it is not always the teacher who reads with them, and changes may not be immediately noticed otherwise.

 Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday.

Thank you for all your support and as always if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to email me. 

Next week, we will be...

We are continuing our poetry topic this week. The children are focusing on identifying and creating rhyming words, as well as using descriptive language, expanded noun phrases, and strong verbs to bring their poems to life. They are also paying careful attention to handwriting, presentation, and SPAG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar), ensuring their work is both creative and neatly presented. This topic gives them the opportunity to experiment with language while building on the writing skills they have been developing so far.

In Maths, we are continuing our work on addition and subtraction, building on the strategies we have been practising. We are now focusing on working with two-digit numbers, challenging ourselves to add and subtract confidently. The children are consolidating their understanding of place value and using practical equipment and written methods to show their thinking clearly.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 7th November 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, we have been exploring a range of poems, focusing particularly on those inspired by fireworks. The children have enjoyed reading and discussing different poems, identifying powerful verbs and nouns that bring the images to life. They also had the opportunity to watch a fireworks display, which helped them to gather ideas and sensory vocabulary for their own writing. Using their findings, the children created a word bank full of exciting descriptive language. They then used this to plan and write their own shape poems, capturing the sparkle, colour, and energy of fireworks.

This week, we have continued our work on addition and subtraction, building on our understanding of number relationships. The children have been learning to add three one-digit numbers efficiently, exploring different methods to make ten and find totals quickly. They have also been working on adding to and beyond multiples of ten, using number lines and visual resources to help spot patterns and make connections. Towards the end of the week, we began looking at subtracting to and from ten, using practical equipment and number facts to support our reasoning. The children have shown great perseverance as they apply their knowledge to increasingly tricky problems, explain their thinking, and develop confidence in choosing the most efficient strategies.

This week, we have started our new science topic all about Animals, including Humans. The children began by exploring what all living things need to survive, identifying the importance of food, water, air, and shelter. They discussed why each of these is essential for life and compared them to the things we want rather than need. Through group discussions and practical activities, the children thought carefully about how humans and animals meet their basic needs in different ways. It has been lovely to see their curiosity and thoughtful ideas as we begin to explore this exciting topic further.

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

This week, we have continued our Nativity preparations! The children have been practising the songs and taking part in full run-throughs of the performance, focusing on remembering their lines and performing with confidence. They have shown fantastic teamwork by supporting one another, listening carefully, and taking turns on stage. Their enthusiasm and effort are really shining through!

We have also enjoyed the start of our D.T. project this week. The children discovered that they will be designing and making their own toy vehicles, using a wheel and axle mechanism to help them move. After exploring different ideas, they created their own designs and are very excited to begin building their models next week.

 How you can help...

Please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. As a class, we are encouraging the children to become more independent in letting me know when they need a new book. This approach helps ensure that children can continue to read at their own pace, as it is not always the teacher who reads with them, and changes may not be immediately noticed otherwise.

A big shoutout to everyone who has been completing their homework! The work that has been coming in has been amazing, and I’ve been so impressed with the effort and creativity the children have shown. This term, you’ll find a new set of homework projects for the children to complete at their leisure. Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday.

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated resources for our DT project, we have everything we need and we look forward tto getting started with this project. 

In the coming weeks, a letter will be sent home to let you know which part your child has in the Nativity (if they haven’t already shared the exciting news!). The letter will also include some costume ideas and a copy of your child’s lines so that they can practise at home.

Thank you for all your support and as always if you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to email me. 

Next week, we will be...

After half term in English, we will be starting a poetry topic inspired by Firework Night. The children will focus on using descriptive language, expanded noun phrases, and strong verbs to create vivid imagery. There will be a strong emphasis on handwriting and presentation, as well as careful attention to SPAG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar), to ensure their poems are not only creative but also neatly and clearly presented. This topic will give them the opportunity to experiment with language while consolidating the writing skills they have been learning so far.

After half term in Maths, we will be continuing our work on addition and subtraction. The children will focus on adding and subtracting 10 and then progress to working with two-digit numbers. They will continue to consolidate their understanding of place value and use practical equipment and written methods to show their thinking clearly and confidently.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 23rd October 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, we have been exploring some of our favourite films and using clips from these to inspire our writing. The children have been practicing key writing skills, including imperative verbs, action verbs, and expanded noun phrases. They have been thinking carefully about how to bring characters and scenes to life, using engaging sentence starters and descriptive vocabulary. It has been wonderful to see their creativity and imagination in action as they experiment with building exciting sentences that capture the reader’s attention.

This week, we have continued our work on addition and subtraction, focusing on adding and subtracting numbers by 1 and exploring how we can use 10 to help us calculate more efficiently. The children have been consolidating their understanding of number bonds to 10 and 20, exploring fact families, and using visual tools like 20 frames and 100 squares to support their calculations. The child are focusing on building confidence on reading tricky maths problems and working out what the question is asking, spotting patterns, and applying their knowledge to solve these challenges. We even had a go at creating our own maths problems using bears and different characters. 

This week, we have been finalising our knowledge of hot and cold countries and exploring what life is like there for humans and animals. The children have been building fact files, carefully considering key information and interesting details to include. They have been working step by step to organise their facts, thinking about climate, habitats, and how people and animals adapt to different environments. They have been enthusiastic and curious as they share ideas and support each other. 

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

This week, we have been starting our nativity preparations! The children have been practicing songs and have completed one full run-through, working on remembering their lines and performing confidently. They have been supporting each other, listening carefully, and taking turns, showing great teamwork and enthusiasm. It has been wonderful to see their excitement and dedication as they bring the nativity to life.     

 How you can help...

Over half term please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. 

Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday. There are some activities to complete over half term just to keep children familiar with what they have learnt this term. 

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated resources for our DT project - we are still on the look out for some more cardboard boxes and as many bottle tops as possible please. 

It was great to see so many of you at parents evening - thanks again for all your support and kindness and as always any questions or concerns, please feel free to email. 

Next week, we will be...

After half term in English, we will be starting a poetry topic inspired by Firework Night. The children will focus on using descriptive language, expanded noun phrases, and strong verbs to create vivid imagery. There will be a strong emphasis on handwriting and presentation, as well as careful attention to SPAG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar), to ensure their poems are not only creative but also neatly and clearly presented. This topic will give them the opportunity to experiment with language while consolidating the writing skills they have been learning so far.

After half term in Maths, we will be continuing our work on addition and subtraction. The children will focus on adding and subtracting 10 and then progress to working with two-digit numbers. They will continue to consolidate their understanding of place value and use practical equipment and written methods to show their thinking clearly and confidently.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 17th October 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, we have been continuing to explore Little Red Riding Hood and encouraging the children to be creative with the story. They have been experimenting with new characters and inventing their own settings, thinking about how these changes affect the story. Using their knowledge of narrative structure — opening, build-up, problem, resolution, and ending — the children have been planning and writing their own versions of the tale. I’ve been really impressed with their creativity and imagination. They have been using expanded noun phrases, engaging sentence starters, and descriptive vocabulary to make their characters and settings come alive.

This week, we have been starting our work on addition and subtraction, focusing on consolidating the children’s understanding of number bonds to 10 and 20. They have been learning how to use these bonds to solve calculations more efficiently and to see connections between numbers. The children have also been exploring fact families and using 20 frames to help visualise the addition and subtraction calculations. It has been wonderful to see them reasoning with numbers, spotting patterns, and using their knowledge to solve addition and subtraction challenges with increasing confidence. These activities are helping them build a strong foundation for future work with larger numbers and more complex calculations.

This week, we have been exploring our creativity through flower design. The children have been experimenting with mixed media, trying out different materials and techniques to bring their ideas to life. They have been building their skills step by step, with the goal of re-creating Van Gogh’s famous sunflowers in our final week. The children have been thinking carefully about colour, shape, and texture, and supporting each other by sharing ideas and giving constructive feedback. Their enthusiasm and creativity are really shining through, and I’m excited to see how their final sunflower creations will turn out!

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

This week in PSHE, we have been thinking about consequences and behaviour. The children discussed how our actions can lead to positive or negative outcomes and reflected on the impact of their choices on themselves and others. We have also been focusing on collaborative learning, practising how to work together, take turns, and listen actively to each other’s ideas. It has been wonderful to see the children showing thoughtfulness, respect, and teamwork during discussions and activities, and they are becoming increasingly aware of how their behaviour affects those around them.

 How you can help...

Please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. As a class, we are encouraging the children to become more independent in letting me know when they need a new book. This approach helps ensure that children can continue to read at their own pace, as it is not always the teacher who reads with them, and changes may not be immediately noticed otherwise.

Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday.

We are still on the look out for resources for the children's DT project for this term: Wheels and Axles. I would be very grateful if each child could bring in a cardboard box (shoe size or smaller) and any spare milk bottle tops you may have at home. If these could come in by the half term that would be ideal. 

I am looking forward to seeing you all at Parents’ Evening, where we’ll be sharing how the children have settled in and are getting on with school life. It will be a lovely chance to celebrate the small, important steps they are taking in adapting to their new routines and environment.

Thanks again for all your support and kindness and as always any questions or concerns, please feel free to email. 

Next week, we will be...

Next week in English, we will be practising key writing skills. The children will focus on using expanded noun phrases, imperative and action verbs, and will pay careful attention to SPAG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar). This will help them strengthen their writing, making it more precise and engaging, while consolidating the skills they have been learning so far.

Next week in Maths, we will be continuing our work on addition. The children will focus on using number bonds to 10 to help with calculations and will practise adding three-digit numbers. They will also consolidate their understanding of place value and continue to use practical equipment and written methods to show their thinking clearly and confidently.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 10th October 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

This week in English, we have been continuing our work on Little Red Riding Hood, focusing on how a story is structured. The children have explored the key parts of a narrative — the opening, build-up, problem, and resolution — and have thought carefully about how events unfold and how characters respond to challenges. I’ve been really impressed with the quality of the children’s writing. They have shown great imagination and have started to use expanded noun phrases, interesting sentence openers, and descriptive vocabulary to bring their ideas to life. All of this will help prepare them for writing their own creative stories in the coming weeks.

This week in Maths, we have been concluding our work on place value, consolidating the children’s understanding of how numbers are made up of tens and ones and how they can be partitioned in different ways. The children have been practising counting in 2s, 5s, 10s, and 3s, building their confidence with number patterns and strengthening their understanding of multiples. It’s been fantastic to see how much progress the children have made — they are becoming much more confident when working with numbers and are developing strong foundations for future work in multiplication and division.

This week in PSHE, we have been thinking about consequences and rewards. The children discussed what makes a consequence or reward appropriate and explored how our actions can have different outcomes. They showed excellent teamwork and thoughtful ideas during their partner discussions, really listening to each other and sharing sensible, reflective responses.

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

This week in Geography, we have really enjoyed learning about what it is like for humans to live in hot and cold countries. The children explored different parts of the world, showing off their fantastic knowledge about the Equator and how it affects climate. They thought carefully about how people adapt to living in different environments and reflected on what kind of country they would like to live in and why. It was wonderful to see such thoughtful ideas and enthusiasm during our discussions!

How you can help...

Please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. As a class, we are encouraging the children to become more independent in letting me know when they need a new book. This approach helps ensure that children can continue to read at their own pace, as it is not always the teacher who reads with them, and changes may not be immediately noticed otherwise.

I have been truly impressed by the quality of the homework that has been coming in. It has been a lovely experience to share some of the children’s projects with the class, and it is wonderful to see how proud and enthusiastic they are about their work. Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday.

In the coming weeks, the children will be starting their DT project for this term: Wheels and Axles. I would be very grateful if each child could bring in a cardboard box (shoe size or smaller) and any spare milk bottle tops you may have at home. If these could come in by the half term that would be ideal. 

Thanks again for all your support and kindness and as always any questions or concerns, please feel free to email. 

Next week, we will be...

Next week in English, we will be working on our Little Red Riding Hood story innovations. The children will use the familiar structure of the tale — the opening, build-up, problem, and resolution — to plan and create their own versions with imaginative twists. They will think carefully about how to change characters, settings, and events while keeping the story’s key structure. This will be a wonderful opportunity for them to showcase their creativity and use the descriptive language skills they have been developing.

Next week in Maths, we will be starting our new unit on addition and subtraction. The children will build on their understanding of place value to help them add and subtract numbers confidently, using practical equipment and written methods to show their thinking. They will also continue to practise counting in 2s, 5s, 10s, and 3s to strengthen their number fluency. 

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 3rd October 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, we began exploring the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood. The children have been focusing on understanding the characters and settings, which will help them when they create their own versions of the story in a few weeks, complete with their own unique characters and adventures. We also incorporated a drama lesson, where the children enjoyed acting out the story, bringing the characters and scenes to life and helping them understand the story even better. In our lessons, we have been practising key writing skills, including the use of expanded noun phrases, adjectives, and verbs, to make our writing more detailed and engaging. The children have been excited to bring the story to life through descriptive language and imaginative ideas!

In Maths, we are coming to the end of our place value unit, and the children have made excellent progress in understanding how numbers are made up of tens and ones. They have been learning to read, write, and represent numbers in a variety of ways, including using base-ten blocks, drawing pictorial representations, and partitioning numbers to show their value. This week, we also created a whole-class number line, which allowed the children to practise comparing numbers, identifying which numbers are greater or smaller, and understanding their order. In addition, the children began counting in 2s, 5s, and 10s. They enjoyed practising these sequences in a variety of ways, including chanting, moving along the number line, and applying their counting to real-life contexts.

This week in Computing, the children have been learning about how to share things safely online. They explored the importance of keeping personal information private, thinking carefully about what is safe to share, and understanding how to use online tools responsibly. As part of this, the children created their own self-portraits using digital tools and then shared them on the Purple Mash dashboard. This activity helped them practise their digital creativity, while also reinforcing safe online behaviours and how to interact positively in a digital space. 

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

The children have really enjoyed creating posters to show how we can help look after God’s creation. They came up with amazing ideas and demonstrated a strong understanding and knowledge of caring for the environment. Their posters reflected thoughtful thinking about ways we can protect nature, reduce waste, and care for animals and plants, showing both creativity and awareness. It was wonderful to see them engaging with these important ideas so enthusiastically and sharing their learning with the class.

How you can help...

Please continue to read regularly with your child and ensure their reading is logged. As a class, we are encouraging the children to become more independent in letting me know when they need a new book. This approach helps ensure that children can continue to read at their own pace, as it is not always the teacher who reads with them, and changes may not be immediately noticed otherwise.

I have been truly impressed by the quality of the homework that has been coming in. It has been a lovely experience to share some of the children’s projects with the class, and it is wonderful to see how proud and enthusiastic they are about their work. Just a friendly reminder that homework is sent home on Friday and is due back the following Wednesday.

In the coming weeks, the children will be starting their DT project for this term: Wheels and Axles. I would be very grateful if each child could bring in a cardboard box (shoe size or smaller) and any spare milk bottle tops you may have at home. If these could come in by the half term that would be ideal. 

Thanks again for all your support and kindness and as always any questions or concerns, please feel free to email. 

Next week, we will be...

In English, we will continue exploring Little Red Riding Hood, starting to think about how a story is structured. The children will be exploring the opening, build-up, problem, and resolution, developing an understanding of how events unfold in a story and how characters respond to challenges. This will prepare them for creating their own stories with imaginative characters and plots in the coming weeks.

In Maths, we will be concluding our place value unit, consolidating the children’s understanding of how numbers are made up on 10s and 1s and how they can be partitioned. We will also continue practising counting in 2s, 5s, 10s, and 3s, building confidence with number patterns and laying strong foundations for future work in multiplication and division.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 26th September 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

This week in English, we explored the story of Paddington. The children enjoyed reading about Paddington’s adventures and discussing the exciting places he visits. They focused on writing setting description about Paddington station, using sentences that included adjectives to make their writing more interesting. We also practised using the suffixes -er and -est to describe things, comparing objects and places in our sentences. The children worked hard to include these grammar skills in their writing, making their descriptions detailed and engaging.

In Maths, we focused on developing the children’s estimating skills. The children enjoyed estimating quantities in pictures as well as guessing where numbers should be placed on a number line before checking their answers. I have included a link just below to a fun estimating website, in case you would like to try some activities at home with your child. We also started to compare objects and numbers using the symbols <, >, =, and the children practised explaining which number or object was greater than, less than, or equal to. 

https://estimation180.com/days-21-40/ 

This week in science, we explored the absorbency of different materials as part of our preparation for creating umbrellas next week. The children tested a variety of fabrics and papers to see how much water each material could soak up. They made careful observations, recorded their results, and discussed which materials were most absorbent and which were least absorbent.

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

The children have really enjoyed their visit to the book bus this week, it is lovely to see children sharing different books with their friends in such a lovly, calming environment. The children have also enjoyed using playdough to create their own models in R.E, then carefully destroyed them and reflected on how this made them feel. We discussed how our feelings about our creations can help us understand how God might feel about His creation. The children shared their thoughts and emotions, showing a growing ability to connect their experiences with the ideas we learn about in R.E. This activity helped them think deeply about respect, care, and responsibility for the world around us.

How you can help...

Please continue to read regularly with your child and log their reading. If your child is feeling confident with their book you can challenge them by asking them questions about what they have read or by asking them to recall the story they have read. Reading books and logs should be brought back into school each day.

Homework will be sent home on a Friday and is due back in the following Wednesday. Please can you encourage your child to complete as much of their homework as possible, homework will build on skills taught within school or be a task that will build their confidence ready for an upcoming lesson.

We would still be very grateful for any old newspapers that you could send in with your child to help us with our creative projects in Art. 

Next Friday, we will be visiting the church for our Harvest celebration. We will be walking to the church, and we would greatly appreciate parent volunteers to help us on the walk. 

Thanks again for all your support and kindness and as always any questions or concerns, please feel free to email. 

Next week, we will be...

In English, we will be exploring the story of Little Red Riding Hood. The children will be retelling the narrative, acting out some important parts and having a go at writing their own version of the story, applying their learning from this week. We will focus on using adjectives, verbs, and conjunctions to make our sentences more exciting, as well as practising writing in full sentences with correct punctuation.

In Maths, we will be starting to look at the 2, 5, 10, and 3 times tables. The children will explore patterns in these times tables, practise counting in multiples, and begin to apply their knowledge to solve simple problems. We will use a range of practical activities and games to help the children develop confidence and fluency with these times tables.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 19th September 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

 This week in English, we explored the classic tale Jack and the Beanstalk. The children enjoyed identifying the key events and characters in the story, then worked together to create colourful story maps to show the sequence of events. We also revisited important grammar skills—using verbs, adjectives, and conjunctions to make our sentences more exciting and detailed. In Maths, we focused on being flexible thinkers by finding different ways to represent a number. The children experimented with number bonds, part–part–whole models, place value, and even visual representations to deepen their understanding.

This week in Art, the children explored different strategies for collage. They experimented with layering, cutting, tearing, and arranging various materials to create unique and imaginative pieces. It was fantastic to see their creativity and problem-solving skills in action as they discovered new ways to express their ideas. 

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

The children really enjoyed their P.E. sessions this week. The children focused on communication and teamwork. They participated in activities and games that encouraged them to work together, listen to each other, and support their teammates. It was wonderful to see their collaboration, problem-solving when asked to order themselves in alphabetical order without talking! 

How you can help...

Please continue to read regularly with your child and log their reading. If your child is feeling confident with their book you can challenge them by asking them questions about what they have read or by asking them to recall the story they have read. Reading books and logs should be brought back into school each day.

Homework will be sent home on a Friday and is due back in the following Wednesday. Please can you encourage your child to complete as much of their homework as possible, homework will build on skills taught within school or be a task that will build their confidence ready for an upcoming lesson.

Next week, we will be continuing our collage topic in Art. We would be very grateful for any old newspapers that you could send in with your child to help us with our creative projects.

Thank you so much for your support-  it really helps to make the start of Year 2 such a positive experience for everyone.

If there are any questions, please do ask. 

Next week, we will be...

In English, we will be exploring the story of Paddington and focusing on writing setting descriptions, helping the children bring places to life with detailed language and use of suffixes. In Maths, we will be practising estimating and using number lines to support our understanding of numbers and improve accuracy.

Hazel Class - Year 2

Date: 12th September 2025 

What we have been learning this week... 

What a lovely first full week we have had in Hazel class!

In English this week we have been exploring the book ' I like bees but I don't like honey' to help us describe ourselves and what we can do. We have been practising neat presentation, labelling pictures of ourselves, writing sentences using conjunctions such as because and but and developing our confidence in speaking and sharing ideas with the class. In Maths we have continued our place value unit; we explored different the different ways we can represent 10s and 1s and had lots of hands on experiences with dienes, multi-link and place value charts. 

This week in RE, the children revisited the Christian creation story from Genesis. We began with a lively “busy-busy” music activity, moving our pencils to jagged, mechanical rhythms before switching to calm, flowing music—helping the children feel the difference between work and rest. They reflected on why rest is important for our bodies, minds, and families, just as God rested on the seventh day. After reading the story together, the class eagerly recalled what was created on each day and explored beautiful artwork inspired by creation. To finish, they chose their favourite day of creation to draw—producing vibrant, expressive artwork that truly captured the wonder and excitement of the story!

Activities we have enjoyed this week...

 We have enjoyed spending some time on the book bus this week as well as choosing their favourite day of the Christian creation story from Genesis to draw— producing vibrant, expressive artwork that truly captured the wonder and excitement of the story!

How you can help...

I am delighted to share that your child is now bringing home a reading book every day. It would be very helpful if these books could come back to school each day as well. Please continue to read regularly with your child and record their reading. If your child feels confident with their book, you can extend their learning by asking questions about the story or encouraging them to retell it in their own words.

Homework books will be sent home on Fridays and contain a variety of activities linked to our current topics and themes. We kindly ask that these are returned by Wednesday so that we have time to provide feedback and add additional work in Maths, English, and spellings.

Thank you so much for your support during this first full week — it really helps to make the start of Year 2 such a positive experience for everyone.

If there are any questions, please do ask. 

Please see below for a link to the slides that were shown at the 'Welcome to the Year Ahead' meeting on Thursday.

Hazel - Welcome to the Year Ahead 25-26

Next week, we will be...

In English, we will be exploring the Jack and the beanstalk story; revisiting how we use adjectives, verbs and conjunctions to write character descriptions. In Maths, we will be continuing our place value topic and starting to explore how we can make the same number through different representations. In Geography, we will be exploring the five oceans of the world and adding these to our world map.