Year 2

Miss Dingle is our Year 2 Class teacher

About the KS1 Curriculum 

KS1 marks a shift from EYFS to more subject-specific learning. KS1 covers all compulsory national curriculum subjects. These are English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Computing, Languages, PE, Art and Design, Music and Design and Technology.  

Year 2 is a continuation of what has been learnt in Reception and Year 1, but now enables the children to embed and apply what they have learnt through fun and practical projects and topics in class. 

Long term plans and areas of learning 

KS1 English Curriculum 

The national curriculum establishes English and Literacy as a core KS1 subject. An understanding of the English language is central to developing an understanding in all national curriculum subjects. Here, reading, writing and spoken language are divided into different areas of study, these are: 

• Writing composition
• Spelling
• Vocabulary, grammar, punctuation
• Reading
• Phonics
• Story resources
• Spoken language and listening

KS1 Mathematics Curriculum 

At KS1, the national curriculum states children should begin to understand mathematical language, understand the fundamentals and begin to solve problems by applying this knowledge. The focus at KS1 is for children to be able to recognise, describe, draw, compare and sort numbers. The areas of Mathematics studied at KS1 are: 

• Number and place value
• Addition and subtraction
• Multiplication and division
• Fractions
• Measurement
• Properties of shapes

KS1 Science Curriculum 

The focus of science in the KS1 national framework is to allow children to observe scientific phenomena. Engaging their curiosity and encouraging them to ask more questions about the world around them. At KS1 children are expected to develop a basic understanding of working scientifically, meaning they will begin to use scientific methods and skills. The areas of science covered in KS1 are: 

• Seasonal changes
• Animals including humans
• Everyday materials
• Living things and their habitats
• Plants

These areas of scientific study should form a solid basis of scientific understanding to be developed throughout a child’s primary and secondary education. Observation is central to science at KS1, children should be able to perform simple tests and communicate their observations to their teacher and peers. 

KS1 History Curriculum 

At KS1, children should begin to develop an awareness of the past, becoming aware of different time periods. The national curriculum states children at KS1 should begin to identify similarities and differences between time periods and within a chronological framework. There is freedom within the national curriculum to teach local history and different topics as long as they support the teaching of changes in living memory, significant national events and the lives of significant individuals. Some historical topics taught at KS1 are: 

• The Great Fire of London
• Kings and Queens
• Victorian times
• Medieval history
• WW1
• The Aztecs

 KS1 Geography Curriculum 

KS1 Geography focuses on developing a child’s understanding of the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. The national curriculum states that at KS1, children should begin to understanding subject-specific vocabulary and begin to use geographical skills. Geography topics taught at KS1 are: 

• Locational knowledge
• Place knowledge
• Human and physical geography
• Geographical skills and fieldwork

Locational knowledge covers towns and cities, place knowledge covers different ecosystems around the world and human and physical geography covers climate, transport, the water cycle, rocks, rivers, weather and seasons and volcanoes and mountains. 

KS1 SATs 

The Key Stage 1 SATs take place in May of year 2. Unlike the KS2 SATs, these tests are not strictly timed as the ability to work at speed is not assessed. Teachers will have the option to stop the test at any point that they feel is appropriate for a particular child. 

The results are used by teachers and schools as a way to check against national averages, measuring what has been understood and retained by each child.  

Online resources  

• www.phonicsplay.co.uk/ 
• www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/numberblocks 
• www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/alphablocks 
• www.learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/?utm_source=lekids&utm_medium=header-tab&utm_campaign=learnenglish-kids 
• www.home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/ 
• www.home.oxfordowl.co.uk/at-school/year-2-at-primary-school/ 

Essential books to read for your year group 

www.schoolreadinglist.co.uk/suggested-reading-list-year-2-pupils-ks1-age-6-7