Author: Mrs Bye

This week in Year 2, we enjoyed a calm and thoughtful RE lesson as we explored the question: What do many Christians believe is the good news that Jesus brings about peace?

We listened to words from the Bible, including John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” We discussed what “peace” means and how it can feel inside us, even when things around us are busy or challenging.

The children shared some beautiful ideas about what makes them feel peaceful.

Alfie “I feel peaceful when I’m in bed and it’s quiet.”

Luna “When I have a cuddle with my friend, I feel calm.”

Lyla “Playing outside makes me feel peaceful.”

The class then drew their own pictures inside heart shapes to show what peace looks like to them.

It was a lovely opportunity to reflect and connect, and the children spoke so thoughtfully about their feelings and ideas.

This half-term, Year 2 have been thoroughly enjoying their Forest School sessions. The children have been exploring the woodland environment and using a range of tools to create their very own mini-habitats for woodland creatures.

Working in small groups, the children carefully designed and built shelters using natural materials such as sticks, leaves and bark. They thought about which animals might use their habitats, including hedgehogs, insects, spiders, beetles and even small birds.

A key focus of our sessions has been learning how to use tools safely and responsibly. The children were introduced to tools such as hand saws and learned how to handle them with care. They practised important safety rules, including keeping a safe distance from others, using tools with control, and always listening carefully to instructions.

In Maths this week, the children have been introduced to multiplication.

We began by recognising even and uneven groups, helping the children notice when objects could be shared into equal groups. The children then explored making equal groups using practical resources such as counters and cubes.

We continued by exploring multiplication as equal groups. The children used practical resources such as counters and cubes to make groups and count how many there were altogether. For example, they made 2 groups of 5, 3 groups of 4, and discussed what these look like.

You could support your child at home by asking them to spot equal groups in everyday situations, such as pairs of socks, groups of fruit, or rows of chairs.

We had a fantastic World Book Day today and loved seeing all the different outfits and the children looked amazing.

In class we read How to be a Lion by Ed Vere and explored Leonard’s characteristics, thinking about what makes him such a unique character. We also took part in a whole-school story where each class wrote a page. Our class had the exciting job of writing the final page and deciding how the story would end.

In the afternoon, we enjoyed some quiet reading time with the Year 3s while having a hot chocolate and a biscuit, which was a lovely way to finish the day.

This week, the children enjoyed a wonderfully muddy first Forest School session! They explored the space with great curiosity, searching for signs of spring and noticing changes in the natural environment. The children also took part in games, working together and building confidence. These experiences encouraged them to slow down and develop a sense of awe, wonder, and respect for the world around them.

Today, Year 2 wrote a recount of their trip to Abbey House Museum. The children carefully sequenced their day using time adverbials such as First, Next, Then and Finally.

They loved remembering the different activities, especially playing with old-fashioned toys and exploring the Victorian town. We were very impressed with how clearly they explained what happened and shared their favourite parts of the day.

How you can help at home:

• Ask your child to retell a real event using time words (First, After that, Finally).

• Encourage full sentences with capital letters and full stops.

• Ask them to explain their favourite part and why.

Every Friday afternoon, Year 2 visit the library for Book Club. Children enjoy time to read for pleasure and choose a book to take home for the week.

This weekly visit supports our reading curriculum by building fluency, vocabulary and a love of reading.

We encourage families to read the book together at home and talk about the story.

Please remember to return library books by Friday so your child can choose a new one. Thank you for supporting our young readers.

Today, Year 2 made delicious fruit salads in Food Technology. We practised washing fruit, using knives safely and keeping our fingers safe with the claw grip. We worked carefully and followed instructions well.

It was great to see the class enjoying their hard work, yum!

At home, children can help by washing fruit, mixing ingredients, or helping to make a healthy snack with an adult.