Autumn Term 2026

Welcome 

Welcome to Year 2! We hope that your children are feeling excited about the year ahead... We all are!  

This is what a typical school day will look like for your child this year:  

ELS Phonics  

Maths / Writing  

Break  

Writing / Maths  

Lunch and Play  

Spelling / Handwriting   

Foundation subjects / PE  

Picture News / Storytime  

Home Time  

Reading / Phonics 

• Please read daily with your child and record what they have read to you in their yellow reading records. It could just be a tick/ your initials or feel free to communicate with us about how your child is reading at home.   

• Please put books in bookbags each day so we can read with them in school and return all books on Fridays so we can check reading records and change the children’s books.  

• 3 things to remember  

  • Reading should be enjoyable (not too tricky!)  

  • If English isn’t your first language, do read books in your first language as well.  

  • Reading should include a wide range of fiction and non-fiction.  

Writing 

As well as working towards the Year 2 writing skills, we will continue to focus on handwriting and spelling throughout the year. We have an exciting writing curriculum that enables children to become confident storytellers and encourages them to develop a love of writing.  

The books that support our writing curriculum have been carefully selected to ensure that children are exposed to rich vocabulary and a wide range of story types and structures. They also provide opportunities for children to develop their oracy and grammar skills, helping them to become confident and creative writers.  

In Autumn term we will be reading the following texts:  

• Hurricane by David Weisner  

• Troll by Julia Donaldson  

• Dr Xargle’s Book of Earthlets by Jeanna Willis and Tony Ross  

• The Grinch who Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss   

Spellings 

It is invaluable to continue to practice the Year 1 and now the Year 2 harder to read and spell words. These are the words that the children should be able to read and spell by the end of Year 2. We will inform you each week of any focus spellings that we would like you to support your child with. It would be great if you could help the children practice these spellings at home so that they feel confident to use them in their writing. 

Please see spellings in the links below.

Handwriting 

In Year 2 we will continue to focus on the children’s handwriting. For the first half term we will be recapping all the letters that the children have worked on previously in Year 1. If we feel that your child is ready, in Autumn 2, we will begin to introduce them to joins without ascenders (for example, ai, ar, un). 

Maths  

Throughout the Autumn term we will be covering units on Number and Place Value, Properties of shape, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division as well as Position and Direction.  

Remember that your child has access to Numbots which will support your child’s maths. We will put your child’s log-in in their Reading Records. If you lose it, don’t worry! Please let us know as soon as you can and we will give you a replacement.   

Science 

 Science – Materials and their Properties 

All foundation subjects being covered during the term  

Autumn 1  

• History – The Great Fire of London  
• PSHE – Relationships – ‘Being Me in My World’  
• Science – Materials and their Properties  
• Art – Printing – William Morris / Thomas Beswick   
• PE – Ball Skills and Commando Joe  
• RE – What is it like to be part of the Muslim community in the UK and beyond?  
• Computing – Online Safety and Digital Photography  

Autumn 2  

• History – Remembrance Day and Walter Tull  
• DT – Textiles. Make a hanging poppy for Remembrance Day  
• PE – Invasion & Gymnastics  
• Computing – E Safety  
• PSHE – Celebrating Differences  
• Music  -  

Knowledge Organisers 

Please find Knowledge Organisers for Maths, Science and Geography for this term in the links below.  

PE  

PE sessions for this term (subject to change) are:   

2SF - Tuesday & Friday  

2P - Monday & Wednesday  

Please ensure your child comes to school wearing appropriate PE kit on these days, especially appropriate footwear.  

Homework  

We will inform you each Friday of any home learning activities. The work will always include:  

• Reading at least 3 times a week but daily if possible (please see the information below)  

 And will often include:  

• A maths activity to support what they are doing in class  

• A spelling activity  

Please can the homework be returned by the following Friday. 

Routines and equipment needed (eg water bottles, stationery etc) 

Snacks and Packed Lunch  

Children are provided with a fruit snack in school each day and are also entitled to a free school meal. If children choose to bring their own snack and/or packed lunch, please can these be healthy choices. Please note, that sweets are not permitted to be eaten during the school day.  

Children should also bring in a named water bottles for the day. Water only please – no squash or juice. 

Other useful information relevant to your particular year group.  

Great Fire of London theme day:  

Monday 5th October – all day. We will put a message out requesting volunteers for that day – keep an eye out for that if you are interested. It’s a terrific day. The children will also have the opportunity, if they would like it, to dress up. Some children chose not to dress up, that is fine, but the more that can, the merrier! Please speak to your child’s class teacher if you would like clarification or to discuss this in more detail.  

 

Thank you for all the support that you give your children at home; it is really appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to speak to your child’s class teacher. If you do have any questions about the curriculum, please do come and speak to us at the end of the school day or contact us by email using dunalley@dunalley.gloucs.sch.uk 

Thank you,  

The Year 2 Team  

Mr Price (2P Class Teacher)  

Mrs Krori (2P 1:1)  

Mrs Sarna (2SF Class Teacher - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday)  

Mrs Flood (2SF Class Teacher – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)  

Miss Scarfe (2SF 1:1)  

Mrs Garraghan (2SF 1:1)  

Mrs Flood will teach 2W on Wednesday morning when Mr Price has his Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time and she will teach 2SF from Wednesday afternoon, taking over from Mrs Sarna when she has her PPA time.   

 

Knowledge Organisers

 

Spellings