Welcome to Year 2!
Fortune Class
Teacher: Mr Wykes
Teaching Assistant: Miss Frisby
Liberty Class
Teacher: Miss Magog
Teaching Assistant: Mrs Miles
The United Kingdom
In Year 2, pupils will explore the fascinating United Kingdom through hands-on learning about its diverse physical landscapes and bustling human geography. Furthermore, through History, Geography, Science, English, RE, Computing, Art, DT and PE, children will study various significant historical individuals who were born or lived in our country, alongside actively discovering the important local events, rich cultural traditions, and famous national landmarks that have continuously shaped us over time.
Term 1: The UK - An Island Nation
How does being an island make the UK special?
Children explore what it means for the UK to be an island and how the sea has shaped our history, travel and culture. They learn why our coastlines, weather and connections to the wider world make the UK unique.
In English, pupils will read Dougal's Deep Sea Diary and apply their geographical knowledge to write postcards and diaries before creating fact files about sea creatures.
Term 2: Titanic - Life on Board
How did people's place in society affect their lives on the Titanic?
Children explore what life was like for passengers and crew on the Titanic, from luxurious first‑class cabins to the challenges faced by those in steerage. They learn how social class shaped people’s experiences during the voyage.
In English, pupils will read Samson's Titanic Adventure and apply their historical knowledge of the Titanic disaster to write recounts, diaries, and descriptive writing.
Term 3: Our Place in the UK
What makes a place special to the people who live there?
Children discover what makes different places meaningful, from local landmarks to the communities who live there. They learn how people’s memories, traditions and surroundings help create a sense of belonging.
Term 4: People who made a difference / Modern Heroes
How have people from the UK changed the world?
Children learn about inspiring individuals from across the UK who have made a positive impact on science, art, sport and everyday life. They discover how courage, creativity and determination can help change the world.
In English, children will read non-fiction texts from the Little People, Big Dreams series of books about inspirational individuals from across the UK. They will use their knowledge from these texts and their history learning to write a non-chronological report on a famous individual. Children will also write an informative travel guide about the UK.
Term 5: Terrific Trees
Why are Britain's forests important, and how can we protect them?
Children find out why forests are vital for wildlife, clean air and our everyday lives. They learn simple, practical ways we can all help to look after Britain’s trees and woodlands.
In English, children will undertake a deep dive into the story Bog Baby. Using their reading of this text, the children will write a wild creature story, along with descriptive and instructional writing pieces, culminating in a diary.
Term 6: Life in a Castle
What was everyday life like in a Norman castle?
Children step back in time to explore how people lived, worked and defended themselves in a Norman castle. They learn about the roles, routines and challenges of medieval life inside and outside the castle walls.
In English, children will read the text The Dragon Machine, and from this they will produce descriptive writing pieces, a dragon encyclopaedia and an explanation text answering the question 'How do castles keep people safe?'
P.E. Lessons
PE lessons take place on Tuesday.
Children should come to school wearing their PE kit on this day. Long hair should be tied back and earrings should be removed before school, as staff are not able to remove or replace earrings.
Across the year, pupils will take part in team building, dance, gymnastics, target games, net and wall games, sending and receiving, athletics, striking and fielding, invasion games and ball skills.
Forest School Lessons
Forest School lessons take place on alternate Tuesdays as follows:
Fortune Class – Tuesday 1st September and every other Tuesday following.
Liberty Class - Tuesday 8th September and every other Tuesday following.
Children must wear a long-sleeved top and long trousers regardless of the weather. Children will be outside for at least 50 minutes of a session; they will have time to get changed at the start of the session. Children do not get changed after the session; they go home in their kit. The only exceptions are if they are attending a club.
Educational Trips and Visits 2026/7
Across the year children will take part in a range of experiences designed to bring their curriculum learning to life. These include a Titanic workshop, a visit to Shorne Wood Country Park and a visit to Rochester Castle.
Please scroll down to find out more about our learning.
Our Learning
Maths
In Year 2, children follow the White Rose Maths sequence. They build a secure understanding of number through practical resources, models, images and discussion.
Across the year, children learn about:
- place value within 10, 20, 50 and 100;
- addition and subtraction;
- shape;
- length and height;
- mass and volume;
- multiplication and division;
- fractions;
- position and direction;
- money;
- time.
Parents and carers can help by practising counting, number bonds, reading numbers, using money, talking about time and spotting maths in everyday life.
The scheme of learning can be found below.
1-minute Maths
Designed for use both in class and at home, 1-minute maths is a free app that helps children build greater number confidence and fluency. It’s all about targeted practice in engaging, one-minute chunks!
The app is aimed at Key Stage 1 pupils. Individual one-minute tasks focus on adding and subtracting – and on ‘Subitising’, the skill of instantly recognising the number of items in a group without counting. Multiplication and division topics are also available.
Children can choose any topic they want to try. They then answer a unique series of questions (so it’s a different set of questions every time). If they’re struggling with a question, a ‘Hint’ button will give a helpful clue by showing the question in a different but familiar way. When the one minute’s up, they’ll see a feedback screen telling them how they’ve done.
The app is free to download for parents and children from the Apple App or Google Play Store.
Times Tables Rockstars
By the end of Year 2, most children should be able to recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables, including recognising odd and even numbers. We use Times Tables Rock Stars because it has a proven track record of boosting children’s fluency and recall in multiplication and division.
The question-based games automatically adapt to each child’s unique learning needs, helping them to recall their times tables in record speed.
Children will be able to play the games at home or in school using a their unique login.
Reading
Reading is the key to success!
At Thames View, we are part of the Accelerated Reader programme. Children choose an appropriate AR book, read it carefully, and then complete the associated quiz to check their understanding. This helps pupils develop fluency, comprehension and independence as readers.
We celebrate reading success every week, including the number of words read and the number of successfully completed quizzes. Children are encouraged to challenge themselves, make thoughtful book choices and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Children should read most nights at home for at least 20 minutes and bring their reading book and Reading Record to school every day. Parents and carers can support by listening to their child read, asking questions about what they have read, and encouraging them to complete their AR quiz once they have finished their book.
This year, key class texts include:
- Gruffalo
- Superworm
- Beegu
- The Wolf's Story
- The Boy who Cried Wolf
- Diary of a Killer Cat
Spelling
In Year 2, we follow the ELS Essential Spelling programme. To enable children to spell successfully, they need to have a strong grasp of the main sounds of the English language. All children entering Year 2 have been taught these main sounds and the code used to represent these.
ELS Essential Spelling allows children to deepen their phonic understanding in Year 2, as well as covering the spelling focuses outlined in the National Curriculum. For those children who need support to consolidate their code knowledge to underpin reading, we prioritise this using the Early Letters and Sounds interventions.
Children are encouraged to continue to practise their weekly spellings at home. These spellings will be tested each Friday.
You will find the printable spelling lists for Year 2 in the links at the bottom of the page.
Useful Links
Number Fact Families Have a go at practising your fact families.
SPaG - Small Town Superheroes Brush up on your SPaG with the help of some superheroes
BBC Bitesize Daily Activities
Oxford Owl Free Online Books So many great books to choose from!
White Rose Maths 1 Minute maths app - https://whiteroseeducation.com/1-minute-maths