Welcome to the Year 2 Class Page.

My name is Miss Phillips and I am the Year 2 class teacher.  I work alongside Mrs Barry, our Teaching Assistant, who supports children both in class and in small group interventions.

I have worked at Our Lady's School for 12 years and am part of the Senior Leadership Team.  Alongside this, I lead a number of subject areas, such as PSHE, Wellbeing and Diversity.  I am also the Deputy Safeguarding Lead.  During my time at Our Lady's, I have taught in Year 2, Year 4 and Reception and I have really enjoyed supporting our children's educational journey through the different stages of primary school.   Reading is a passion of mine and I love to be transported to faraway places with a good book.  I also enjoy walking and jogging - especially in the summer time when it's nice and warm. I have two sisters and a brother and I really enjoy spending time with them. 

School Day

Start time: 8:40

Finish Time: 3:25

Weekly Routines

P.E.

We have P.E every Monday and Thursday . We have access to both the hall and the MUGA for our P.E session meaning we can carry on teaching P.E regardless of the weather. Children should come to school dressed in their P.E kit. It is recommended that during the winter months, children wear jogging bottoms and bring a school jumper/fleece to wear in addition.

Water Bottles

Children need to bring a labelled water bottle into school every day. The children will take them home at the end of each day to be washed and filled, with water, ready for the next day.

Reading Books

Reading Books should be brought into school on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please aim to read with your child every day as it will have a positive impact on your child’s progress. Reading records must be signed and dated in order for us to change books. Please note, any books not signed, will not be changed. A record of all books issued, including when changed, is kept to help us monitor reading progression.

Phonics

We follow the Floppy's Phonics scheme of work.  Children are assessed regularly and learn new sounds each day at the appropriate Phase. They also learn how to read tricky words. Alongside this, the children take part in daily Guided Reading sessions which helps to develop their fluency and comprehension skills. 

Homework

In Year Two the children are given spellings to learn each week.  We may also give out Precision Teaching worksheets based on the results of their spelling tests which helps children to read tricky words on sight and become more fluent. We also give out Maths and English homework each week based on the learning we have completed in class.

The children have access to the White Rose one minute maths website which develops children's number sense and rapid recall of number bonds. 

How to help with maths and reading:

Reading

Have fun with reading.  Let your child choose what they read and enjoy it together.  Short or long, it’s time well spent.

Don’t worry about what your children are reading: recipes, cereal packets … it’s all useful!  Keep books and other reading materials close by.

Reading to children of all ages is helpful.  Ask lots of questions: who, what, where, when and why and ask them to summarise when you’ve finished.

When you see your child reading, praise them:  “I love to see you reading!”

For more tips on helping your child read, click here.

Mathematics

Maths can be a part of your everyday activities through games, stories and conversation!  You don’t need to have a separate maths lesson or activity.  Why not count plates as you lay the table or do a fun addition quiz?

Board games like Snakes and Ladders or other games with numbered spaces can be great for Maths learning.  You can even make your own!

Meals and snack times can be great to teach lots of concepts, like sharing, talking about time, counting how many carrots you have, estimating the number of beans or comparing sizes of potatoes.

Use maths words in conversation and play, talking about size (“Which is bigger?”), order (“Which is first?”), shapes and more.

Stories can be great opportunities for maths learning.  Check out mathsthroughstories or you can use books you have at home!

Use manipulatives like bricks or toys of different sizes or amounts to support learning.  Measuring, building, puzzles, sorting and patterns can be great!

When you see you child practising maths in everyday tasks, praise them!