Squirrel Class

Class teacher’s welcome

Welcome to year 2 and 3 Squirrels Class! This year promises to be an exciting journey of learning, discovery and growth. In our classroom, we celebrate curiosity, creativity and kindness. Encouraging every child to develop their confidence and achieve their best. We will explore a wide range of subjects through engaging lessons, hands-on activities and collaborative projects, while also focusing on building strong friendships and supportive learning community. Together, we will work hard, have fun and make this a fantastic year to remember!

Curriculum news

Spring 1:

The “At a Glance” overview, which was previously updated on the website each half term, is now provided as an attached newsletter document for ease of access.

Spellings and Phonics

At All Saints’ Primary School, we follow Little Wandle Phonics which then transfers into the Read, Write Inc. spelling scheme in Key Stage 2. You can find an overview of your child’s spellings below.

Year 2s will be focusing on the following during their sessions this half term:

Phase 5 review:

Week 1	/ai/ a-e ai ay a eigh ea ey aigh /ee/ y ea ee e ie ey e-e /igh/ igh i-e i y ie /oa/ ow o o-e oa oe ou	people eye whole
Week 2	oo/ /yoo/ oo u u-e ew ue ou ui /air/ air are ear ere /ur/ er ur ir or ear /ow/ ou ow	through improve move prove shoe two who beautiful their parents
Week 3	or/ or a aw au ore oor al oar our augh aur /zh/ si su /ch/ ch tch ture* /sh/ sh ti ch ssi ci si	thought sure
Week 4	j/ j g ge dge /s/ s ss c ce se st sc /u/ ou /e/ ea /i/ y /o/ a /u/ o o-e /oo/ u oul schwa: er a or ar our re	once again any many friend busy pretty because laugh**
Week 5	ie /ee/ /igh/ y /ee/ /igh/ /i/ ea /ee/ /e/ /ai/ a /a/ /ai/ /or/	friend

Autumn 2:

Week 1	What do I need to know to think about spelling? How do I use the Complete the code chart to help me to spell?	Homophones and near-homophones
Week 2	Why do I double letters at the end of words? Why do I double letters in some longer words ending in -er?	Adding -ing, -ed, -er, -est and -y to words of one syllable ending in a single consonant letter after a single vowel letter
Week 3	Why do some words end in ‘k’ or ‘ck’? Why do some words end in ‘ch’ or ‘tch’?
Week 4	When do I add the suffix -es/-s to words? Why do I double the final letter in some words when I add the suffix -ing?	Adding -ing, -ed, -er, -est and -y to words of one syllable ending in a single consonant letter after a single vowel letter
Week 5	Why do I swap the ‘y’ for an ‘i’ when I add the suffix -ed? Why do I drop the ‘e’ when I add the suffix -ing?	Adding -ed, -ing, -er and -est to a root word ending in -y with a consonant before it Adding the endings -ing, -ed, -er, -est and -y to words ending in -e with a consonant before it

Spring:

Week	Focus	Example Words
Week 1	The or sound spelt a before l and ll.	almost, already, chalk, small, stalk, talk, altogether, Red Words: above, after, again
Week 2	Soft c .	Circus, city, concert, excellent, exercise, fancy, notice, pencil, Red Words: any, anyone, are
Week 3	Adding the suffix –y (1)	Dotty, muddy, spotty, runny, sunny, yummy, foggy, funny Red Words: ask, bath, beautiful
Week 4	Special focus 1: Red words. Common exception Special Focus 2: Homophones.	1: where, could, there, want, was, would, what 2: See/sea, son/sun, blew/blue, knight/night, saw/sore
Week 5	Adding the suffix –y (2)	Breezy, crazy, curvy, greasy, simply, spiky, wheezy, Red Words: behind, both, bought
Week 6	Adding the suffix –ly	Bravely, foolishly, happily, loudly, nearly, softly, warmly Red Words: break, brother, buy
Week 7	Half term
Week 1	The n sound spelt kn and gn.	Gnash, gnaw, gnome, knead, knee, knock, knit, Red Words: caught, child, children
Week 2	The *igh* sound spelt y.	Butterfly, horrify, July, multiply, my, nearby, reply, Red Words: Christmas, class, climb
Week 3	Adding the suffix –ing (1)	Beginning, clapping, dropping, gripping, nodding, shopping, tripping Red Words: clothes, cold, come
Week 4	Special focus 3: Red words. Common exception Special Focus 4: Homophones.	3: money, people, busy, half 4: There/their, no/know, right/write, to/too, week/weak
Week 5	Adding the suffix –ing (2)	Baking, cracking, phoning, racing, shading, tickling, writing, Red Words: does, door, down
Week 6	Half term

Year 3s:

Week	Focus	Example Words
8 Sep	The or sound spelt a before l and ll.	almost, already, chalk, small, stalk, talk, altogether, Red Words: above, after, again
15 Sep	Soft c .	Circus, city, concert, excellent, exercise, fancy, notice, pencil, Red Words: any, anyone, are
22 Sep	Adding the suffix –y (1)	Dotty, muddy, spotty, runny, sunny, yummy, foggy, funny Red Words: ask, bath, beautiful
29 Sep	Special focus 1: Red words. Common exception Special Focus 2: Homophones.	1: where, could, there, want, was, would, what 2: See/sea, son/sun, blew/blue, knight/night, saw/sore
6 Oct	Adding the suffix –y (2)	Breezy, crazy, curvy, greasy, simply, spiky, wheezy, Red Words: behind, both, bought
13 Oct	Adding the suffix –ly	Bravely, foolishly, happily, loudly, nearly, softly, warmly Red Words: break, brother, buy
20 Oct	The n sound spelt kn and gn.	Gnash, gnaw, gnome, knead, knee, knock, knit, Red Words: caught, child, children
28 Oct	– HALF TERM	–
3 Nov	The *igh* sound spelt y.	Butterfly, horrify, July, multiply, my, nearby, reply, Red Words: Christmas, class, climb
10 Nov	Adding the suffix –ing (1)	Beginning, clapping, dropping, gripping, nodding, shopping, tripping Red Words: clothes, cold, come
17Nov	Special focus 3: Red words. Common exception Special Focus 4: Homophones.	3: money, people, busy, half 4: There/their, no/know, right/write, to/too, week/weak
24 Nov	Adding the suffix –ing (2)	Baking, cracking, phoning, racing, shading, tickling, writing, Red Words: does, door, down
1 Dec	The j sound.	Adjust, bridge, charge, energy, gentle, large, urgent, Red Words: even, every, everybody
8 Dec	The o sound spelt a after w and qu.	Quality, quantity, squash, wallet, wander, wasp, watch, Red Words: eye, fast, father
15 Dec	Special focus 5: Contractions and apostrophes.	5: I’m, I’ll,

Spring:

Week	Focus	Example Words
12^th Jan	Adding the suffix –ed (1)	Dropped, hugged, chipped, clapped, stepped, flipped, spotted, Red Words: fast, Father, find
19^th Jan	Adding the suffix –ed (2) (swapping y for i).	Carried, fried, hurried, married, multiplied, tried, replied Red Words: gold, grass, great
26^th Jan	Adding the suffix –ed (3) (dropping e to add –ed, and revision of doubling final consonant and swapping y for i).	Battled, cycled, denied, liked, ruled, phoned, striped, Red Words: half, has, here
2^nd Feb	The u sound spelt o, and the or sound spelt ar after w.	brother, other, nothing, Monday, swarm, reward, warm Red Words: hold, hour, house
9^th Feb	Possessive apostrophes.	Practice Red words from this half term so far.
16^th Feb	The r sound spelt wr	wrong, wrestle, wrist, wrap, write
23^rd Feb	The r sound spelt wr	wreck, wrinkle, wriggle, wren
2^nd March	Adding the suffixes -er or -est (1)	faster, slowest, louder, largest, braver
9^th March	Special Focus 1 (Red words) and Special Focus 2 (Homophones)	1: many, some, should, come, any, would 2: there/their, nose/knows, for/four
16^th March	Adding the suffixes -er or -est (2)	happier, silliest, funnier, finest, wiser, nicest, slimier, trickiest
23^rd March	Adding the suffixes -er or -est (3)	bigger, slimmest, hotter, saddest, wetter, fittest, maddest
30^th March	Half-term
6^th April	Half-term
Week 1	The ee sound spelt ey	key, donkey, chimney, turkey, trolley, money, honey, jockey
Week 2	Adding the suffix -ness (1)	Kindness, sadness, illness, weakness, darkness, foolishness
Week 3	Adding the suffix -ness (2)	dizziness, silliness, cheekiness, madness
Week 4	Words ending in -le	rattle, simple, middle, triangle, giggle, bubble, handle, battle, little, table
Week 5	Special Focus 3 (Words ending -il and words where s makes the zh sound ) and Special Focus 4 (Homophones)	3: fossil, council, evil, peril, nostril; measure, treasure, usual, television 4: seen/scene, wait/weight, hole/whole, sighed/side, new/knew
Week 6	Words ending in -el	camel, tunnel, towel, travel, jewel, label, angel, cancel, level
	Words ending in -al	magical, plural, vocal, tropical, animal, capital, medical, signal, festival
	Adding the suffix -ful	joyful, cheerful, thankful, wonderful, hopeful, painful, colourful, thoughtful
	Special focus 5 (ir sound spelt or after w)	5: worm, world, work, worth, worst, password, workshop

Home Learning Projects – Summer Term

English

Create a character sketch for someone in your favourite book using detailed descriptive vocabulary.
Write your own mini fact file about a food item and describe its journey from farm to fork.
Keep a weekly reading journal noting favourite parts, new vocabulary and questions.

Science – Plants

Plant a seed (sunflower, bean, cress) and keep a growth diary with drawings or photos.
Create a labelled diagram showing the parts of a flowering plant and their functions.
Make a poster explaining different ways seeds travel (wind, water, animals).

Geography – Food & Farming

Look at food labels at home and map where your food comes from.
Create a simple model or drawing of a farm showing different types of farming.
Research one item that travels to Yorkshire from Europe and present your findings in a fun way.

Art – 3D Floral Sculptures

Make your own 3D flower using recycled materials (cardboard, foil, tissue paper).
Use natural objects from a walk (sticks, leaves, stones) to create a nature sculpture.
Sketch different flowers from observation and experiment with shading.

DT – Cooking & Nutrition

Help prepare a balanced meal and design your own “healthy plate.”
Grow herbs or salad leaves on a windowsill and track their growth.
Create a simple recipe card for a favourite healthy snack.

RE – The Trinity

Create a symbol, poster or piece of art that shows the idea of “three in one.”
Write a reflection about what different symbols of faith mean to people.

French

Make a mini booklet introducing yourself in French (name, age, where you live).
Create flashcards for key vocabulary and practise with a family member.
Record yourself asking and answering simple French questions.

Computing – Desktop Publishing

Design a simple poster for an event at home using any child‑friendly publishing software.
Create a page layout with text and pictures about a favourite hobby.

PSHE – Being My Best

Create a “Growth Mindset Wall” at home with positive words and affirmations.
Make a “bounce‑back plan”: What helps you when things are tricky?
Set a small challenge for the week and track progress.

Be Creative! You can make a scrapbook, a giant poster, a PowerPoint slideshow or even a video diary. Add drawings, photos, maps, charts, and anything else to make your project exciting and colourful.

Please bring your home project during the week beginning the 11th May . The suggested projects are just ideas. You are welcome to create anything you like based on what we’ve learned this term.

Dates for the diary

PE days: Tuesday and Thursday (Mrs Ed-dakhissi)

Forest School: Just a little reminder that Squirrel Wednesday the 1st of October 2025. Their last session will be Wednesday 15th October 2025. Please check the letter for details of what your child will need to wear.

Squirrel Class Collective Worship and class visit: Wednesday 26th November 2025

Squirrel class Church Visit: Thursday 2nd October

Parents evening consultation: Tuesday 14th October and Thursday 16th October 2025

Carol Service year 3 at All Saints’Church: Tuesday 16th December 2025

Carol Service year 2 at All Saints’Church: Wednesday 17th December 2025

Links to support learning

Reading

Please encourage your child to read daily for a minimum of 10 minutes. At least 3 reading sessions per week should be recorded in the school Reading Record. Children should all have a school reading book (that can be changed regularly) but should be encouraged to read other material as well.

Maths

Year 2 Numbots (login on inside front cover of Reading Record) – Children work through the different levels to help secure their calculation skills and number facts.

Times Table Rock Stars (login on inside front cover of Reading Record) – Y3 introduces 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables, as well as building on 2, 5 and 10 (from Y2)

Just for fun!

All about squirrels from the RSPCA