What are your year 2 children doing in English?

[FrogsOnALog]

Just out of curiosity, what are your year 2 children doing in English at the moment? Particularly if they are in independent or outstanding state primary.

Some Outstanding schools haven't been inspected for over a decade so their curriculum could be very out of date..

@FrenchToasty

Some Outstanding schools haven't been inspected for over a decade so their curriculum could be very out of date..

True, I suppose if you feel it is outstanding works too Upon babysitting and agreeing to help with homework like a goon my niece who goes to an independent school this morning, I've noticed quite a difference to the level of homework that my daughter in the same year gets who goes to a 'good' school. I suppose I'm just trying to gauge generally what sort of level children are doing in 'better' schools.

An independent setting will always be vastly different to any mainstream.

Year 2 'Good' rated state school:
Currently writing diary entries inspired by Great Fire of London. Children are being taught how to use past tense language correctly, capital letters for names and places and how to write descriptive noun phrases linked to senses.

I have no idea, my son tells me nothing and the school doesn’t either. I’m curious how parents actually know what their children are doing in various subjects. I’m not actually v impressed with my child’s education. They get eight spellings a week as homework (which is fine, I don’t want them overloaded) but he knows them backwards so there is no element of challenge and when I’ve asked for him to be set more difficult spellings so he actually has to work a bit the answer was a flat no.

You're right Bing, I suppose if you pay for a better education then that's what you get. I'm just wondering about looking into moving or getting on wait list if full to an outstanding school. But maybe private schools are still a league ahead above even outstanding state.

Thanks user, sounds fairly similar to ours.

At our school Tabby they send out regular newsletters about what the class is up to, and homework is generally a reinforcement of what they're doing in class. They get 1 piece of English and maths a week reinforcing what they're doing but doesn't usually take long. Plus spellings and a reminder to listen to them read. It's the same amount as to what my niece gets but it's definitely at a higher level. My niece is apparently average in her class, my daughter is exceeding expectations but if she went to this school she'd probably be bottom of the class. It has taken me back a bit to be honest, I wish I could afford a better education. That's such a shame they won't give harder spellings. Some teachers really aren't good at different level work, too much hassle I suppose. Hopefully his teacher next year is better! Or maybe you can challenge him with ones at home and he can wing the tests if they're ones he already knows.

Often there isn't a load of difference between a good school and an outstanding one. Especially since so many outstanding ones haven't been inspected in years, even despite changes in leadership.

With regards to spellings, it can be very difficult to differentiate spellings in one class. First, you have to take time to identify which spellings the child already knows. Then you have to locate the spellings for the year group that are appropriate for that child (sometimes it's a spellings book that the teacher has and photocopies from, so you have to go and find them and it in the relevant classroom). Perhaps you do a spellings lesson on the particular spellings rule, so you have to find time to do a 1:1 teach for the child with different spellings and they spend the 15-20 minutes of class spelling time reading a book or whatever. Then you have to make sure that child gets those spellings to take home. The following week, when you test the spellings, you have to find time to do their individual spelling test.

Now imagine you have 15 children out of 30 in the class who are all either above or below expected attainment in spelling. You have to do the above for each one. As well as differentiating the Maths, English and planning/ teaching the rest of the curriculum that week, plus intervention groups during assemblies and break times. Yes, in an ideal world all children would always get teaching exactly to their unique skills and abilities. Unfortunately, large class sizes, lack of teaching assistants and too much paperwork with very little time to do it means that state schools are always going to be struggling more than our colleagues in private schools.

Please rethink your comment "Some teachers really aren't good at different level work, too much hassle I suppose".

@Littlescottiedog

Often there isn't a load of difference between a good school and an outstanding one. Especially since so many outstanding ones haven't been inspected in years, even despite changes in leadership.

With regards to spellings, it can be very difficult to differentiate spellings in one class. First, you have to take time to identify which spellings the child already knows. Then you have to locate the spellings for the year group that are appropriate for that child (sometimes it's a spellings book that the teacher has and photocopies from, so you have to go and find them and it in the relevant classroom). Perhaps you do a spellings lesson on the particular spellings rule, so you have to find time to do a 1:1 teach for the child with different spellings and they spend the 15-20 minutes of class spelling time reading a book or whatever. Then you have to make sure that child gets those spellings to take home. The following week, when you test the spellings, you have to find time to do their individual spelling test.

Now imagine you have 15 children out of 30 in the class who are all either above or below expected attainment in spelling. You have to do the above for each one. As well as differentiating the Maths, English and planning/ teaching the rest of the curriculum that week, plus intervention groups during assemblies and break times. Yes, in an ideal world all children would always get teaching exactly to their unique skills and abilities. Unfortunately, large class sizes, lack of teaching assistants and too much paperwork with very little time to do it means that state schools are always going to be struggling more than our colleagues in private schools.

Please rethink your comment "Some teachers really aren't good at different level work, too much hassle I suppose".

I'm feeling a bit depressed about state schools now! You're right, it just can't be done. It's so disheartening. I think I need to look into home educating. As much as I wish it was, independent school just isn't an option. I can maybe make home education work if I can rope in the in laws or ask toddlers child minder if they can have them 1 day a week.

Independent school:

15 spelling per week, 7 sentences to come up with and write including the words. Weekly test. Currently focused on possessive apostrophes in the sentences.

Comprehension twice a week done in class largely independently, based on ability so there are 3/4 different levels being worked at across the class.

Reading book every night. Group reading in class once per week. Read with teacher or TA 1:1 every day.

Topic work - have done great fire of london, solar system etc - research and fact writing and present your work to the class

I think you need to book a meeting with the teacher. You need to understand more about what yes doing & levels.
I think you are massively over thinking spelling. A lot of schools don't focus on it in the way you think. Spelling rule & patterns are often focused on instead. Why does he need to know harder ones right now? He's 6/7 years old. We don't have spelling tests at all in our high performing school.

If you want him to excel in life & educationally, is he doing an instrument. Is he doing lots of sports at proper sports clubs?
Is he in beavers learning about wider topics & life s kills?
Sounds like you have a big downer on state schools: which are great for the majority of children.

Apologies, just re read that it's your DD. But same applies. As long as she's reading lots of not worry. And that means books at home or free library books.
There is little evidence that homework has much impact in primary schools despite private schools doing more of it.
On top of extra curricular clubs, there are loads of ways to educate children without rote learning spellings which is dull & uninspiring for children

This week homework was to write some sentences using adverbials. They also had to include the usual features (capital letters/commas/apostrophes/full stops). This is for a "good" state school.

On the subject of spellings, I wouldn’t worry so much. My DD was an early reader, and is one of those who has always found spellings easy. She just looks at them in the morning of the test, or sometimes forgets to look at all, and almost always gets them all correct. I have worried over the years that she’s missing out on learning opportunities, as some children need to practise every day and still get a few wrong, whereas my DD isn’t given anything else to do instead. Once or twice over the years, she and one other have had short phases of being given harder spellings and being tested by a TA, but it got a bit ridiculous when the TA didn’t know what some of the words meant, and couldn’t even pronounce some of the words (‘amateur’ springs to mind) which made the testing a bit tricky!

My DD is now in Y6. In Y5 her teacher told me she had surpassed the spelling expectations for primary school, and that they don’t really teach spellings as a discrete topic at secondary school (I don’t know whether that is true). If you want to, you can find on the gov.uk website details of what spellings and spelling rules schools are supposed to teach under the national curriculum, and you could push ‘ahead’ at home. However, this will just make school more boring for your DD.

My DD’s is in a one form entry state primary, Ofsted rating of ‘good’. Some years have been better than others, depending on each teacher’s interest in stretching the brighter pupils. With 30 children in a class, there’s not much scope for individualised learning, but that doesn’t mean that a good teacher can’t differentiate at all. They will still be learning every day, even if it sometimes doesn’t feel like that, based on what they say at home! Of course, in an independent school with fewer children in the class, there is more scope for tailored learning, but it’s not always done better.

I used to get anxious about my DD not being stretched sufficiently, but I’ve relaxed a bit over the years, and since Covid hit I’m so grateful for my DD being in school! I wish they challenged the brighter ones a bit more, and I wish they did ability grouping rather than mixed ability seating, but I’m happy enough. They are teaching the curriculum well, I’m confident my DD will do well in her KS2 SATs, and the school does well to reward effort and instil confidence and pride in achievements. Meanwhile, there are plenty of other ways to stretch a bright child outside school, with music lessons, learning a foreign language, sport…

Ours is a 'good' one form entry state school. They are focussing a lot on comprehension at the moment. And joined up writing. They've started working on SATS booklets. That's all I know really. I know they did some research on the Great Fire of London the other week. We don't have spelling tests, but DD seems to be doing well with spelling without that. They have mixed seating, but DD is in an intervention group for those working at greater depth. They have one session a week with the class teacher outside the classroom. I think there are 6 of them in the group. We get 3 reading books a week, plus 2 online books. And they read with the TA or teacher once a week, and in a group once a week. That's the stark difference with the independent school mentioned above that I can see.

In terms of spelling, do not worry so much. Read as much as possible, you can find books in shops and at your local library too.

Mine didnt do spellings till y3.
But doesnt need more that 3-5 min to go through them as they do in class.
I agree state isnt great.
Weve had issues throughout. Dc1 is very bright but difficult. If feel she would be less difficult if stretched i feel she want to be recognised as being good.
She hates pe. But getting back into piano and maybe spanish.
I dont think state copes with different kids they want average. Ours just gives a few challenge pages not real differentiation for maths.

When in y2 she was reading lots of chapter books. And probably as she is inclined like that she has picked up spelling from that.
As pp says you need to understand the words too. I wish ours would be the set of words for y3/4 etc as well as the set words.

She is now reading the hobbit 9yo but that may well be too hard.
But i imagine even a little bit can help with comprehension.
I would focus more on comprehension and reading.
After all spelling count little even in gcses

My son is in a 2 from entry state outstanding school in year 2. They learnt about the great fire of london last half term and are doing India as a topic this year. He reads independently most evenings and can read the easier roald dahl books himself. Homework is optional and he does some writing every other week/ They have weekly spelling tests.
On the other hand for maths they really push him and he is part of a maths challenge group for those working above year 2

Currently writing newspaper reports and learning about structure etc. I think maybe based on Curious George book but they might have moved on.
Reading skills/Comprehension every morning in class.
10 spellings per week
Daily homework sheets with 4 short questions put apostrophes/adverbs in sentences, change words to past tense.
Reading everyday.
They have just started Great Fire of London in history so based on other answers - diary entries next 😀
2 form entry - state Ofsted Good.

My DS is in year 2-

Weekly spelling tests including daily practice
Handwriting booklet
Comprehension homework
Maths homework
Times Tables 1- 12 expected to do daily practice
Verbal, non verbal reasoning , maths and english tests weekly at school using CGP books 7-8
Verbal and Non Verbal reasoning papers for homework
Maths on purple mash and also active learn which is every week- varies between, telling the time, division, multiplication, addition, take away, fractions
Books both hard copies and online and expected to read daily
Science experiments to be done at home with parental support but not weekly
Story writing using the story map
English- they are expected to understand similies, alliteration, metaphors , adverbs, verbs etc and ensure stories has evidence of these being used.
They have to do show and tell to encourage public speaking and this is meant to be prepared and handouts to be completed

I am sure I have missed alot

We get packs of work