Southwater Infant Academy Welcome to Year 2 20th September 2018

Settling into Year 2 - Yellow Wing Well done for building up the children’s confidence in making the transition from Year 1 to Year 2, and for helping your child to come straight into school. Any important messages can be left at the door with a member of the Academy staff. If it is a longer message or discussion, please make an appointment to see your child’s teacher at a convenient time.

The Year 2 Curriculum In Yellow Wing we teach the revised Southwater Infant Academy curriculum, which covers the 2014 Primary Curriculum. Our curriculum has been developed for our children, linking with the Primary Curriculum to prepare children, and equipping them with the skills required to succeed in our ever-changing world.

Themes These themes are underpinned by our 4 key drivers: Ambition Autumn term- ‘To Infinity and Beyond’ Spring term- ‘Our World’ Summer term- ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ These themes are underpinned by our 4 key drivers: Ambition Enterprise Wellbeing Environment

Forest Schools Each class in Year Two will experience Forest Schools for a block of 6 Fridays. Children to bring layers of clothes! During a Forest School session, we are based in the Conservation Area with Forest School Leaders and volunteers, and a member of staff from the Academy.

How are children supported in their learning in Year 2? Each class teacher plans and differentiates work to meet the needs of every child. They provide supported and extended activities to enable the children to meet and exceed their potential. A range of groups are provided, dependent on the needs of the children. These include: Rising Stars, Phonics groups and Maths Magicians to either extend or support where necessary.

English The key objectives covered in Literacy during Year 2 are in your pack. Spellings and Common exception words For Year 2 are also in your pack. These are taken from the 2014 Primary Curriculum. Your child is now bringing home spellings to learn. Four word rockets will into their spelling books every four weeks to be practiced at home. Teachers will check these books on a weekly basis. A writing challenge will also be stuck in these books– practise at home will help enormously. Children’s speaking and listening skills are developed through activities such as drama and role play.

Reading Your child’s reading has been assessed, and they have been given a Reading Journal and a reading book to bring home. Daily opportunities will be given for changing books. Please ask your child to change their book if they have already read it. The Reading journal aims to increase and improve communication between the Academy and parents. Children will be required to place their reading journal into a separate box and it will be checked and initialled by an adult each day. Reading groups will take place in each class three times a week, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when children will have opportunities to consolidate and develop their reading skills.

Reading Please continue to read daily at home with your child for at least 15 minutes. We will be expecting children to participate in the Reading Challenge again this year. Rainbow, Bronze, Silver and Gold awards will be presented to children when they achieve these reading goals. We will also expect children in Year 2 to complete a book review once a fortnight. It is our expectation that this at-home-learning is completed, and your support with this is much appreciated. When reading with your child at home please focus on these areas: Fluency Expression Discussion of the text and individual words and phrases Questions about the story, including inferred questions. Examples of these are included in your pack.

Mathematics Number, Calculation and Problem solving Geometry Measure Mention that with < and > there is also = Statistics

Mathematics Key objectives covered in Numeracy during Year 2 are in your pack. We use a range of equipment to help support learning. The children practise mental calculations on a daily basis. Please practise as much mental maths at home as you can. Maths challenges will be sent home in reading journals every fortnight. Children in Year 2 will be expected to begin learning their times tables. Children will be taught maths in their class groups, enabling cross curricular links, reinforcement of skills and application of maths to take place throughout the day.

Yellow Wing Housekeeping Remember hot meals are available free for every child. These continue to be popular with the children. Please visit the Easy Lunch website to view the current menus. theeasylunchcompany.co.uk If your child brings a packed lunch from home, please ensure you only include healthy food in your child’s lunchbox, no sweets or chocolate. Please note we are a nut-free school.

Yellow Wing Housekeeping For their 2 hours of P.E., every child should have both an indoor and outdoor P.E. kit for their weekly lessons. Please ensure they have their P.E. kit at the Academy every day. These must be named. Don’t forget that the Academy office opens at 8.30am. If your child is going to be late or absent for any reason, please ring the Academy office after this time so that the class teacher can be informed.

Pupil Premium Your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium funding if you receive… -Income support, income based jobseekers allowance or income related employment and support. -Support under Part 6 of the immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or Social Services Asylum Team. -Child tax credit, providing you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an income of £16,190 or less. This will mean your child is entitled to items of uniform, and funding for the cost of trips and clubs. If you think you are eligible please speak in confidence to the office staff ASAP.

Yellow Wing Learning As in Year 1, your child complete some of their tasks in their Learning Journal. These books will continue to be used over the academic year. You will still be able to see your child’s work on Parents evenings, and we will still be using the same symbols to mark. a = indicating this work has been aided I = indicating independent work v = indicating the work has been talked about TD = indicating teacher directed work SI = indicating self-initiated work Green for ‘Got it!’ Pink for ‘Practise’

Yellow Wing Learning We want your child to be able to reflect upon their learning. One way we do this is through self assessment. You may also see a Red, Amber or Green traffic light. This is a method of children assessing their own work. Teachers will often refer to children’s traffic lights in their marking, helping children to know how to progress in their own learning. I need some more help I would like some more practise I need a new challenge

Yellow Wing Learning In addition to their Learning Journal, examples of children’s learning will continue to be collected using the Tapestry App. This enables teachers to capture key moments in children’s learning and progress, and record a child’s comments and thoughts whilst working with them. You will be able to see and comment on your own child’s learning on Tapestry as you have done previously. As more work is produced in written form during Year 2, there will be fewer observations made on Tapestry.

Yellow Wing Assessment Children are assessed and their progress monitored regularly by class teachers. This enables us to ensure that all children are making progress and that the next steps in their learning are planned for. Children will be assessed by indicating their progress and achievement against Year Group Expectations. During parents evening you will be able to discuss the Year Group expectations that your child is working on, and whether they are likely to meet these expectations at the end of the year.

Looking forward End of key stage assessments – during period April to June. Children need to be at the Academy every day during this period, unless they are unwell. Transfer & transition arrangements.