Welcome to
Year 2 – Yew Class
Autumn letter 2026
Hello and welcome to Year 2. I hope you enjoyed the Summer break. We have a very exciting year ahead. All of the children have settled in well and are raring to go! In Maths, our learning begins with Place Value, building on knowledge and skill they have acquired in Year 1, before progressing on to Addition and Subtraction and Shape. We will be starting the term with our English lessons based on the wonderful stories by Roald Dahl. Sunday 13th September 2026 is Roald Dahl Day, so as a school, we will be celebrating during the week commencing 14th September. The children will take part in lots of exciting and creative activities inspired by Roald Dahl and his imaginative stories. We look forward to encouraging the children to develop their love of reading, explore new vocabulary and let their imaginations run wild! This term in Science, we are learning about Materials. The children will learn about a range of materials, their properties and uses. We will also explore famous scientists and inventors such as John McAdam, John Dunlop and Charles Macintosh, discovering how their ideas and inventions have changed the way we live. Through practical investigations and hands-on activities, the children will have opportunities to test different materials, make predictions and explain their findings. We will encourage the children to think like scientists by asking questions, making observations and using their scientific vocabulary to describe and compare materials. Our Autumn topic is ‘On Our Doorstep’, with a focus on exploring and understanding the world around us. During Autumn 1, our learning will have a Geography focus, where the children will explore the weather and learn more about our local area and the environment around us. In Autumn 2, we will move to a History focus, discovering more about the history of our local area and how it has changed over time. Alongside our Geography and History learning, we will also explore the work of two local artists, William Heaton Cooper and Stuart Wilkie, giving the children the opportunity to learn about and be inspired by artists connected to our local area. PE will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. However, please make sure your child’s PE kit is in school every day as occasionally this may change. This term, the focus of our lessons will be Multiskills and Dance. Please make sure your child has the correct P.E. kit, consisting of navy or black shorts, white T-shirt, velcro trainers, spare socks and, when the weather gets colder and wetter, black or navy jogging bottoms, a plain sweatshirt/hoodie and coat. Children need trainers as we aim to be outside for P.E. as much as the weather will allow. Pumps can also be brought to wear during indoor PE lessons if you have them. Please ensure all items of clothing are clearly named. Long hair must be tied back and all jewellery removed for P.E. If earrings cannot be removed, they must be covered with tape, which needs to be provided please. On Friday afternoons, the children will continue to take part in our outdoor learning sessions, ‘Forest Friday’. These sessions will form part of our Science curriculum, with our first unit this year focusing on ‘Material World’. As part of our Outdoor Play and Learning
(OPAL), we recommend that children have wellies and waterproofs in school every day. However, please ensure that your child definitely has both wellies and waterproofs in school every Friday, so that we can make the most of our Forest Friday sessions and enjoy learning outdoors in all weathers.
Throughout the week, Yew Class will be supported by Mrs Hall and Miss Taylor. Mrs Thompson will also provide teaching cover on Wednesday afternoons, whilst I have my planning and assessment time. She will teach RE and PE. We continue to encourage reading at home. It would be wonderful for the children to read with an adult as often as possible – ideally daily. Every book should be read more than once to help improve fluency. Please fill in and sign your children’s yellow reading records whenever they have read. We look forward to seeing how everyone is getting on with their reading books. Reading books should be brought to school every day and books will be changed on Wednesdays. We are lucky to have some governors who come and listen to the children read on a regular basis, however, we are always on the lookout for parent volunteers so please let me know if you can come in and help. Times Table Rock Stars log in information will be stuck in the front of your child’s yellow reading record. Please support your children to log on and practise their 2, 5, and 10 times tables whilst at home.
If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to come and speak with me during drop off/pick up times or contact me via the school office.
Best Wishes,
Miss Wilson.
