Transition from year 1 to year 2

[Campaspe]

I've read lots about the transition from reception to year one, but nothing about going into year two. Just interested to hear from other parents if they noticed a big increase in expectations in terms of behaviour and academic work. Also, would you recommend doing anything over the summer to keep your child's hand in, as it were?

I'm a Y2 teacher! There is more talk about Reception/Y1 transition as there is a shift in approaches as the child changes Key Stages, but Y1 & Y2 are both in the same KS.
Possible changes in expectations depends on how the Year 1 teacher has approached the curriculum and whether the Y2 teacher is more formal.
At my school there is little change. Each child is challenged at their appropriate level regardless of being a Y1 or a Y2. I do, however become more formal as they get towards the end of Y2 as preparation to move to junior school.

Forgot to mention - if you want to keep your child's hand in ... reading (try library summer reading project?) and using numbers in real life situations. And have fun! Going out and about or doing things at home and talking while you do them makes a big difference to any aged child.

There is very little difference at DD's school, they basically build on what happened in Y1. You may find children are expected to sit and listen for slightly longer and the teachers may also work on building their independence ready for juniors, but no big change like from YR-Y1.

I've just been warned that there will be a big change for dd in yr2 from september, especially with work load and homework. it has made me determined to give dd the summer off!

My DD2 found the y1-y2 transition hard.

At our school Y2 is the first time they have to work at a table without an adult with them at the table too. She found it really hard to manage and to keep trying even when she wasn't confident.

Keeping hand in - we do the summer reading challenge, and a daily diary, and try to do some board games with dice.

Not much of a leap in our school - smooth transition usually

I would keep reading over the holidays.

Not much different at our school as they mix all y1 and y2 classes, and set for ability across both year groups. I think the biggest difference is in the expectation of outcomes e.g. y2 will be expected to produce longer pieces of work.

PS my dd does read that that's for pleasure

I'm really apprehensive now about September especially as I just accepted a new job, so won't have as much time to help dd with homework. Poor little thing. She's only just turned 6 and when she visited her new classroom a few weeks ago she was dismayed that there was no home corner to play in.

JewelFairies I wouldn't worry just yet. Homework is very variable across schools. In Y2, my DD had daily reading and spelling and then occasional (like every 2 or 3 weeks) other pieces of work that were generally optional and didn't take that long anyway. Certainly nothing that required huge amounts of adult support. Do you know anyone with an older child that might be able to give you more specific info relating to your school?

Well, it was the yr2 teacher that told me...

We only set homework once a week. It doesn't take long (max 20mins) and we make sure there is plenty of time, including a weekend for parents to decide when to do it to fit in with their family life routines. Have you read each day with your child while they were in reception? Will you be able to find 5 or 10 mins most nights to keep that up? If so you'll be fine, JewelFairies.