Otters

What an unforgettable final half-term it has been for our Year 2 children! Packed full of learning, laughter, and some truly special milestones, the children have given absolutely everything as they've come to the end of their journey with us .

In English, the children have been immersed in the wonderful story of Anna Hibiscus, developing their inference skills by reading between the lines to think carefully about how characters feel and why they behave the way they do. They compared their own families and home lives to Anna Hibiscus and her extended family in Africa, leading to some really rich and thoughtful discussions about both similarities and differences. Building on this, the children later wrote postcards in role as Anna Hibiscus, reporting on an imaginary trip away and using expanded noun phrases to describe what they could see, hear, touch, smell and taste – a wonderful showcase of how far their writing has come this year. As the term drew to a close, the children turned their pens to a very special task: writing postcards to the incoming Year 2 children, to be opened on their very first day in September. The postcards were beautiful, showing wonderful empathy as the children listed all the things they think the new children should look forward to, while also reflecting on everything they themselves have achieved.

Maths has taken the children on a real journey this half-term. They began by exploring time, learning to tell the time to the nearest hour and half hour on an analogue clock, and talking at length about the importance of both hands – understanding that the short hand tells us the hour and the long hand tells us the minutes. The children grew in real confidence, beginning to connect the time they read on a clock to their own daily routines. They then moved on to data, building their tallying and interpretation skills and thinking carefully about what data can tell us.

In Science, the children thoroughly enjoyed learning about materials and sustainability. They explored the difference between recyclable and non-recyclable materials and got stuck into fascinating discussions about why it matters that we reduce, reuse and recycle. To bring it all together, the children became designers, creating their own inventions and objects using recycled materials, with wonderfully creative results.

A real highlight of the half-term was being invited as guests to Oakfield Junior School for their Summer Musical Performance. The children were treated to an incredible showcase featuring tap dancing, recorder ensembles, orchestras and choirs. They were an absolute delight to take out, behaving impeccably and being a wonderful audience for a very special afternoon.

In Wild Wednesdays the children embraced forest school and gardening with real enthusiasm, planting seeds, harvesting produce and getting stuck into tidying and preparing our gardens, all in preparation for the Bookham Open Gardens.

Sports Day finally arrived and the children absolutely rose to the occasion! The morning was filled with competitive events, with the children giving their all across a range of challenges, cheered on by a wonderfully supportive crowd. The afternoon took on a wonderfully relaxed feel, with the children choosing freely between football, basketball, colouring, reading for pleasure, javelin, beanbag catapults, skittles and target throwing, all enjoyed in the shade with plenty of water. It was a joyful, memorable day from start to finish.

Transition Day was another important milestone this half-term, with the vast majority of our Year 2 children heading off to spend the day at their new schools. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with teachers and staff at the receiving schools commenting on the children's brilliant behaviour. So many of the children shared that they are feeling excited about their new classes and new teachers – they represented our school beautifully.

In D.T., the children thoroughly enjoyed making wraps! Working safely and hygienically, they prepared and combined a range of healthy ingredients, practising their cutting, preparation and presentation skills along the way. They were brilliant and, most importantly, the wraps were delicious!

In History, the children have been developing their own castle designs, applying their creativity and knowledge with real enthusiasm as they look ahead to bringing their designs to life.

In PSHE, the children have been turning their attention inward, taking time to recognise their own strengths, identify areas they would like to develop and share what they are most looking forward to. It has led to some wonderfully honest and thoughtful conversations – a fitting reflection for this point in the year.

The undisputed highlight of the final weeks was the Rocksteady Concert and Leavers Assembly! The children were treated to a wonderful performance from the Rocksteady band, which included some of our very own Year 2 children showing off their musical talents. The range of instruments on show was hugely impressive, and what struck us most was the sheer confidence of the performers. The rest of Year 2 did them proud too, supporting their classmates with real warmth and enthusiasm – it was a joyful, feel-good occasion from start to finish. Our Leavers Assembly though, just WOW! We hope you enjoyed celebrating with us!

As this chapter draws to a close, we want every one of our Year 2 children to know just how proud we are of them. They have worked so incredibly hard this year, shown great resilience, and grown in so many wonderful ways. These years are precious, the foundations run deep, and every single one of these children leaves us ready for the next chapter. Well done, Year 2 – you have been absolutely wonderful, and we will miss you all.