Merton Bank Primary School

Welcome to Year 2

Attendance is key to academic success and social development. 

Please aim for your child to be in school EVERY day! 

Year 2 is a warm, welcoming and happy classroom where lots of exciting learning takes place. We aim for all our lessons to be engaging and interactive, with a focus on making learning accessible for all our children. Throughout Year 2, children continue to develop their independence. They are given roles and responsibilities in the classroom, with a focus on working together and helping each other. In Year 2 we have a huge focus on supporting children to grow a love of reading, becoming readers who read for pleasure and purpose. The year is jam packed with high quality, hand-picked texts which we hope will help create life-long readers. Our children challenge themselves to achieve their full potential and we work hard to ensure our classroom is a safe space for everyone to try new skills and learn from mistakes. Mental health and well-being are high priority in Year 2. We work hard to support our children to be happy and free from worry and anxieties. We promote positive self-talk and resilience and guide children through any difficulties they face, ensuring they know how special and capable they are.

Things to remember

• Please continue to support your child’s learning at home. It is expected your child reads a minimum of 3 times per week at home. Please record this in your child’s reading record. Thank you for supporting your children at home. It truly is appreciated.

• Your child needs to bring both their reading books, book bag and water bottle into school daily.

• All children in Key Stage One qualify for a free school meal. Please enquire at the office for more information.

• Milk and fruit are provided daily. Please pay for your child’s milk (costing £2 per term) termly in a sealed envelope.

• This term (Autumn) we have PE every Wednesday.

Autumn Term Overview:

Take a look at this booklet to find ways to help early reading at home.

Take a look at some of the exciting learning taking place In Year 2 during Autumn Term 2025!

Writing

Little Red Riding Hood

This term, the children are exploring warning stories through the classic tale Little Red Riding Hood by Pie Corbett. Using this well-loved model text, they are learning how authors create suspense and build journeys that both excite and warn the reader.

Our writing focus is on developing a toolkit for description and characterisation. The children are practising how to paint vivid pictures with words, bringing settings to life and showing readers what characters are like through their actions, dialogue, and appearance.

By the end of the unit, children will use these skills to plan and write their own warning/journey stories, filled with rich description and memorable characters.

Basic Skills

In our Basic Skills lessons, children focus on the key foundations of writing — handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation. These essential skills help children to communicate clearly, confidently and creatively in all areas of their learning.

Through regular practice, children develop neat, fluent handwriting, learn to spell accurately and understand how grammar and punctuation shape meaning in their writing. Lessons are designed to be engaging and supportive, helping every child to build confidence and take pride in their written work.

By mastering these core skills, children become more independent, capable and expressive writers — ready to share their ideas with accuracy and flair.

Reading

This term, the children are enjoying a wonderful range of books that help them explore different styles, characters, and themes:

The Comet by Joe Todd-Stanton – A beautifully illustrated story that sparks imagination and encourages children to think about change, belonging, and hope.

There’s a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher – A lively, interactive read that invites children to join in, laugh out loud, and discover the fun of reading together.

Fairy Tales: The Villains’ Versions by Kaye Umansky – Traditional tales with a twist, showing stories from the villains’ point of view and encouraging children to question perspective and voice.

The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz – A playful retelling of The Three Little Pigs, filled with rhythm, rhyme, and humour, which supports children’s fluency and love of language.

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o – A moving story that celebrates inner beauty and uniqueness, helping children reflect on identity, kindness, and self-belief.

The Crocodile by Lewis Carroll – A classic poem full of rhythm and rich language, offering opportunities to enjoy wordplay and explore imagery.

Through these texts, the children are building their comprehension skills, developing vocabulary, and discovering the joy of stories old and new.

Maths

In Year 2, the children are building confidence in their mathematical understanding through three key areas:

Place Value – Children are learning to recognise the value of each digit in a two-digit number, compare and order numbers up to 100, and use number lines and practical resources to deepen their understanding. This helps them build strong foundations for all areas of maths.

Addition and Subtraction – Pupils are developing strategies to add and subtract two-digit numbers, both mentally and using written methods. They are also exploring number bonds, fact families, and solving problems using real-life contexts to make their learning meaningful.

Shape – Children are identifying and naming 2-D and 3-D shapes, describing their properties, and beginning to explore patterns, symmetry, and simple rotations.

Through practical activities, games, and problem-solving challenges, the children are not only learning how to calculate, but also how to explain their reasoning and apply their skills with confidence.

Geography

Would you prefer to live in a hot or cold place?

In Year 2, the children are developing their knowledge of the world around them by exploring maps, places, and climates:

World Knowledge – Children are learning to name and locate the seven continents, as well as identify the Equator, the North Pole, and the South Pole on a world map.

Comparing Places – They are discovering similarities and differences between the UK and Kenya, helping them to understand how people live in different parts of the world.

Weather and Climate – Pupils are investigating different types of weather, using key geographical vocabulary to describe conditions, and deciding whether a place is hot or cold. They are also learning to recognise the features of hot and cold places and to locate countries with these climates on a world map.

Through discussion, map work, and simple investigations, the children are beginning to think like geographers — asking questions, making comparisons, and using maps and vocabulary to share their ideas about the world.

Computing

What is a computer?

In Year 2, children develop a strong understanding of how technology shapes the world around them. They learn to recognise different forms of technology and understand that computers and devices follow instructions to achieve specific outcomes.

From the beginning of Year 2, children explore how buttons and inputs cause effects, helping them grasp the link between action and response. They can name a range of computer peripherals and explain their functions, building confidence in using everyday technology safely and purposefully.

As their skills grow, children use creativity and problem-solving to design their own inventions, incorporating inputs and outputs to bring their ideas to life. Through these experiences, they come to see the important role computers play in our modern world and how technology can be used to support learning, communication, and innovation.

PE

Fundamentals

In PE, our children develop the skills, confidence and enjoyment to lead active and healthy lives. Through a range of fun and engaging lessons, children learn how their bodies move and how to use them with control, balance and coordination.

Children explore how to run at different speeds, change direction and dodge with accuracy. As their confidence grows, children build their balance and stability, learning how to land safely and move with increasing agility.

Through a variety of jumping, hopping and skipping activities, children develop rhythm, timing and co-ordination. They also enjoy combining these skills in exciting challenges, such as rope skipping and sequence jumping, helping them build stamina, teamwork and perseverance.

Our PE curriculum encourages every child to be active, to challenge themselves, and to discover the joy of movement.

Art

Sketching local landmarks and L.S Lowry

This half term, Year 2 have embarked on an exciting journey in Art, focusing on the landmarks of St Helens. We began by conducting research into various local landmarks, noting the purposes of each and articulating our likes and dislikes. Building on this knowledge, we planned our sketches, exploring how to use line and tone to reflect what we have seen and remembered. We have also started to investigate different grades of pencils, applying techniques such as hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling to convey patterns and textures in our work. Finally, we have created a sketch inspired by images and another drawn directly from the landmarks, labelling our choices of tools and materials. We are immensely proud of our creativity and collaboration! 

Music

Forest School 

At Merton Bank, we believe that some of the best lessons happen beyond the classroom walls. Our Forest School and outdoor learning sessions give children the chance to explore, discover, and learn in the natural world.

Through hands-on experiences—like den building, nature art, bug hunting and fine motor development —children develop confidence, resilience, teamwork and a deep sense of respect for the environment. Outdoor learning helps to nurture curiosity and creativity, while supporting physical health and emotional wellbeing.

Whatever the weather, our children learn to problem-solve, take responsible risks and appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature. These skills and experiences enrich every aspect of their education and help them grow into thoughtful, capable, and caring individuals.

Science

Animals including humans - Growth

In Science, children develop a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world around them. In our unit ‘Animals, including Humans – Growth’, children explore how all living things change and grow over time.

They learn that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults, and they begin to understand the basic needs for survival – water, food and air. Through practical investigations and discussion, children discover how to care for themselves and other living things.

As the unit develops, children also learn about the importance of exercise, healthy eating, and hygiene in keeping our bodies strong and well. By observing, questioning and drawing conclusions, they begin to think like young scientists – curious, careful, and eager to understand the world in greater depth.

RE

Does how we treat the world matter?

In RE, children explore big questions about life, faith and the world around them. In this unit, they learn from the Genesis story of creation, retelling it simply and thinking about what it teaches Christians about the world and their relationship with God

Children consider why Christians believe it is important to look after the world and explore how they might show their thankfulness for creation, for example through Harvest festivals and acts of care for the environment.

Children also identify ways humans use and sometimes misuse the world’s resources, thinking carefully about how our choices affect others and the planet. They are encouraged to ask questions about what they can do to show they care for the world, reflecting on their own responsibilities and how faith can inspire people to make a difference.

Through these lessons, pupils develop respect, empathy and a growing sense of moral responsibility — key foundations for living well together in God’s world.

Take a look at some of the exciting learning taking place In Year 2 during Autumn Term 2 2025!

Writing

We received a letter from a mysterious character in our forest school. To our surprise, it was from the Wolf from the story of Little Red Riding Hood! This sparked an exciting discussion among us. First, we examined the features of a letter. We identified important elements such as: The sender's address, the date, a greeting, the body of the letter and a closing signature. Next, we engaged in a heated debate about the Wolf's actions in the story. Some of us argued that he was simply misunderstood, while others believed he was being very naughty. We discussed the following points: Should the Wolf apologise for his behaviour? What consequences should he face for his actions? Can we forgive him and help him change his ways? After our debate, we decided to write a reply letter to the Wolf. In our letter, we expressed our thoughts on his actions and shared ways he could make amends. This activity helped us learn about letter writing, critical thinking, and the importance of discussing right and wrong. We can't wait to see how the Wolf responds!

Writing

Year 2 have been diving into the wonderfully quirky tale The Papaya That Spoke! and using it as inspiration to strengthen our storytelling skills. This term, we’ve been expanding our vocabulary by exploring rich synonyms to make our writing more exciting and precise. We’ve also been practising the use of powerful adverbs to describe actions in a way that brings the story to life for our readers. In addition, the children have been introduced to inverted commas to show speech. We’ve been learning how speech can reveal a character’s actions, emotions and reactions, helping us write dialogue that truly sparkles. It’s been a fun and imaginative term—full of talking fruit and fantastic writing!

Maths

Addition and Subtraction

In Year 2, children build confidence with addition and subtraction by exploring numbers in practical, meaningful ways. We use a range of concrete resources such as Base 10, rekenreks, and tens frames to help children see how numbers are made and how they can be combined or partitioned. This half term, the children have been learning to: Recall and use addition and subtraction facts to 20 fluently, and derive related facts up to 100, Add and subtract numbers using concrete objects, pictorial representations, and increasingly formal written methods, Show and use commutativity in addition (understanding that numbers can be added in any order) and understand that this does not apply to subtraction and Solve problems using addition and subtraction, including missing number problems. We have introduced column addition and subtraction, where children are beginning to set out their calculations in columns and understand the process of carrying (exchanging) when a number crosses a ten. These written methods are always supported with practical equipment so children can see what is happening to the numbers. Throughout the unit, children practise explaining their thinking, using mathematical vocabulary such as ones, tens, exchange, difference, partition and commutative. This helps them develop both confidence and accuracy as they move towards more formal methods.

Whole Class Reading

This term we have been enjoying a selection of high-quality texts that help children build the skills outlined in the Year 2 reading curriculum, including developing fluency, expanding vocabulary, making simple inferences and discussing the sequence of events.

The Gunpowder Plot (Usborne)

This engaging non-fiction text helps children understand how information is organised. Pupils practise retrieving facts, using features such as headings and captions, and discussing cause and effect—all key skills in the Year 2 curriculum.

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

A favourite in Year 2, this story supports children in making inferences about characters’ feelings, predicting what might happen next, and discussing story structure. We explore how authors use language for impact and build confidence when reading longer chapter books.

Aesop’s Fables

These short traditional tales are perfect for developing comprehension, moral understanding, and the ability to talk about the central message. Children practise retelling stories and identifying how characters overcome problems—skills highlighted in the Year 2 curriculum.

Rosa Explores Life Cycles by Jessica Spanyol

Linked to our science learning, this simple non-fiction text helps children read for meaning, identify key facts and use contents pages and labels to locate information. It strengthens children’s understanding that reading has different purposes.

Talking Turkeys by Benjamin Zephaniah

Through poetry, children explore rhyme, rhythm and playful language. This supports curriculum aims around listening to, discussing and expressing views about poems, as well as performing familiar verses to build reading fluency and confidence.

Across all texts, children practise reading with growing accuracy and expression, build a wider vocabulary and develop their ability to talk about books with understanding. These experiences help nurture not only skilled readers but enthusiastic and curious ones too.

History

Who is the greatest history maker?

In Year 2, children have been exploring the idea of a “history maker”—someone whose actions have made a significant impact on the world and influenced the lives of others. We have discussed how history makers can be famous leaders, brave campaigners, explorers, scientists or even everyday people who bring about change in their community.

This term, our learning has included:

What is a History Maker?

Children developed their understanding of the past by learning that a history maker is someone who is remembered because they changed something, achieved something important, or inspired others. We have looked at how people’s actions can shape places, communities and even whole countries.

Margaret Thatcher and St Helens

We explored who Margaret Thatcher was and why she is a significant figure in British history. The children learned about how her decisions as Prime Minister affected towns like St Helens, helping them understand how national events can influence local communities. This supported the curriculum aim of understanding significant individuals in the past and the impact of historical events on our local area.

Inspiring Women Through History

To broaden our learning, we studied several influential women, discovering how each made their mark on the world:

• Malala Yousafzai – standing up for children's right to education

• Grace O’Malley – a bold leader known for her strength and determination

• Hatshepsut – one of Ancient Egypt’s most successful pharaohs

• Marie Curie – a pioneering scientist and Nobel Prize winner

• Elizabeth I – a powerful Tudor queen who shaped English history

Through their stories, children learned to compare lives from different times, recognise achievements and understand how people overcome challenges to make a difference.

What Will We Be Remembered For?

To finish the unit, children reflected on their own qualities and hopes for the future. They thought about the actions, values or achievements they would like to be remembered for—kindness, bravery, creativity, helping others, or making the world a better place. This encouraged children to see themselves as capable of making positive contributions too.

Computing

Programming: Algorithms and debugging

In Year 2, children are developing their understanding of how computers work and how programming can help solve problems. This term, we have been learning about some exciting computing concepts in ways that are age-appropriate and hands-on.

Machine Learning

Children explored what machine learning is and how it enables computers to make predictions based on data. They learned that computers can “learn” from examples to make decisions, helping them understand the power of technology in everyday life.

Loops in Programming

We introduced loops, where a set of instructions is repeated multiple times. Using simple programming activities, pupils learned to create sequences that repeat, building both efficiency and logical thinking skills.

Abstraction

Children discovered that abstraction is the process of removing unnecessary details to focus on the important parts of a problem. This helps them plan solutions clearly and think critically about how to tackle challenges effectively.

Throughout the unit, children practiced problem-solving, logical thinking and creative programming, laying a strong foundation for further computing learning in Key Stage 2.

Design Technology 

Levers and Sliders

In Year 2, children are developing their practical design and technology skills by learning how to create products that move. This term, our focus has been on levers and sliders—mechanisms that allow parts of a product to move in different ways.

Skill: Levers and Sliders

Children explored how levers and sliders work, experimenting with simple mechanisms to understand how movement is created and controlled. They practiced planning and making designs that use these systems, developing both fine motor skills and problem-solving abilities.

Project: Pop-Up Books and Cards

As part of our project, children applied their knowledge by creating pop-up books and cards that include lever and slider systems. They learned to design, make, test, and improve their products, understanding that careful planning and iteration are key to success in design and technology.

Through this work, children gain confidence in making functional products, understand the purpose of mechanisms and enjoy seeing their ideas come to life.

Enrichment Opportunities

Chester Zoo 

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Chester Zoo for coming into school to deliver their fantastic UK Wildlife Watch workshop. The children loved learning about local wildlife in such an engaging and hands-on way. We are also very grateful for the free tickets they provided, giving our pupils the wonderful opportunity to visit the zoo. During our trip, we were able to explore a variety of habitats and see animals up close, including red pandas, penguins, lemurs, and tropical birds, as well as learning more about the rainforest, savannah, and wetland environments. It was an inspiring experience that brought our learning about wildlife to life!

Forest School Fridays! 

Each week in Forest School, our children step into the outdoors to learn, explore and develop a wide range of important skills. We’ve been busy drawing maps of our forest area, helping the children build their understanding of space, direction and the natural world around them. Forest School also plays a key role in supporting our wellbeing. Through active games, woodland challenges and plenty of fresh air, we are focusing on keeping fit and healthy while enjoying the freedom to move, climb and investigate. Most importantly, our sessions continue to strengthen teamwork and resilience. Whether we are building shelters, solving problems or working together to navigate the forest, the children are learning how to communicate, persevere and support one another. It’s wonderful to see their confidence and independence grow each week as the forest becomes a place for learning, adventure and shared success.