Staying Safe Online

 

In Year Two Computing today, pupils revisited the importance of Staying Safe Online by reflecting on our #InspiredToLearn SMART code. As children grow in confidence and independence online, these conversations are an essential part of helping them make safe, responsible choices.

The pupils engaged thoughtfully in discussion, sharing their ideas and showing a clear understanding of how the SMART rules help keep them safe.

Revisiting the SMART Code

The SMART code reminds children of five important online safety rules:

• S – Safe: Keep personal information private

• M – Meet: Be careful about meeting people you only know online

• A – Accepting: Don’t open messages, links or files from people you don’t know or trust

• R – Reliable: Not everything you see or read online is true

• T – Tell: Always tell a trusted adult if something worries or upsets you

Focusing on M – Meet

In Year Two, we spent particular time exploring “M – Meet”, helping children understand why meeting someone they have only spoken to online can be unsafe.

Through discussion and scenarios, pupils considered:

• Why people online may not always be who they say they are

• Why it is important never to arrange to meet someone without a trusted adult

• What safe choices look like if an online interaction starts to feel uncomfortable

The children were able to confidently explain that any online contact that moves towards meeting in real life should be shared immediately with a parent, carer or trusted adult.

Developing Safe and Responsible Digital Citizens

Online safety learning builds year on year. By revisiting the SMART code regularly and deepening our discussions as children mature, we help pupils develop the knowledge, confidence and language they need to keep themselves safe online.

We were proud of the sensible, thoughtful way our Year Two pupils approached today’s learning and will continue to embed these important messages throughout our Computing curriculum.

Year 2: Week 1 summary and the week ahead....

The children settled back into the swing of things this week and have been producing some amazing pieces of work. 

In Science this week the children have started to look at different habitats. They will learn about this on a Monday with Gardener Jim, during Forest school on a Thursday pm and in my Science lesson during the week. They all loved to go outside and look at what habitats we have in our school grounds. The children were quick to realise that most of the animal habitats will become busier when the weather gets warmer. We will compare these in the warmer weather. We looked at the newts habitat and spiders! Forest school this week was too wet and windy to be outside so the children focussed on helping one species of animal in our school grounds by making feeders. I wonder if your child will remember what they made? Here's a clue....they might eat these at breakfast time. 

English this week has been SPAG focussed, specifically noun phrases. In Maths we have had a tricky week subtracting over ten where the children learnt how to exchange one ten for ten ones. 

Reminders:

-Year 2 Parent information session on Tuesday morning in the staffroom from 9am.

-PE is on a Wednesday

-Forest School is a Thursday 

-We will do a library change on a Monday and a Friday but please feel free to visit the library before and after school with your child. 

-Home learning folders and reading records to be in school every Friday please, it's much easier for us to organise what needs to be sent home if we have these. Please let us know if you need a new one. 

🌟 Mrs Thorpe and The Year 2 team🌟

Year 2 Computing: Exploring Data and Pictograms

In Year Two this week, pupils began an exciting new Computing unit focused on questioning, data and pictograms. Although no devices were used in this first lesson, the children were busy developing the thinking and understanding they will need before creating their own pictograms digitally next week.

The lesson introduced pupils to the idea that computing is not just about using technology, but also about collecting information, organising it and thinking carefully about what it tells us.

---

What Is a Pictogram?

We started by learning some important new vocabulary, including:

• Pictogram – a diagram that uses pictures to represent data

• Data – a collection of information

• Information – facts or knowledge gathered from a source

The children discussed how pictograms help us answer simple questions, while also recognising that they have limits and cannot explain everything.

---

Types of Homes 

Using photographs and class discussion, pupils explored different types of homes, including detached houses, semi-detached houses, bungalows, terraced houses and flats. 

They talked about:

• How these homes look different

• What features they noticed

• Which types they were familiar with

This generated thoughtful conversations and helped children make real-life connections to the data they were about to collect.

---

Activity: My Home

Pupils then completed a worksheet about their own homes, identifying the type of home they live in and sharing information with the class. This was an important step in understanding where data comes from and how it represents real people and real experiences.

---

Looking Ahead: Creating Our Pictograms

Although we didn’t create pictograms on devices today, pupils explored examples and discussed key questions such as:

• What information does a pictogram show?

• What information does it not show?

Next week, pupils will use this collected data to create their own pictograms digitally, applying their understanding in a practical and creative way.

---

Why This Matters

This lesson helped pupils build strong foundations in:

• Data handling

• Questioning and reasoning

• Understanding how information is represented

By separating the thinking from the technology, children were able to focus deeply on what they were learning and why it matters.

We’re looking forward to seeing their pictograms come to life next week! ⭐

---

This lesson followed Purple Mash Computing Unit 2.4 – Questioning: Using and Creating Pictograms

Year 2: Key information about the week ahead!

We are all so looking forward to seeing the children tomorrow after our festive break. 

We hope that you have had a lovely time with your families. 

Key information you need to know 

Mondays: During the afternoon all of the children will be having a 30 minute gardening session with gardener Jim. Children need their warm coats and wellies for this. Ideally they will have hats too. 

Wednesdays: Pm will be PE with Mrs March

Thursdays: Pm Forest school. Again please provide warm layers for this. Named clothing can be kept in school but must fit in the children's lockers. 

Fridays: Book bags with reading records and any home learning that has been completed please. 

Year 2 Parent information session is on Tuesday 13th January at 9am in the Staffroom. During this session I will tell you all about the Spring term and how to support your children at home. 

Please can we have all jumpers, cardis, hats and gloves etc labelled. It is going to be very cold so please provide a warm coat and hat/gloves/scarves. 

As always, please do come and see me at the door in the mornings. Miss Taylor may be at the door more regularly now as she is in her final 5 weeks with us. 

❄Mrs Thorpe and the Year 2 team ❄

Year 2: End of term festivities

 Wow what a brilliant end of term we have had! 

We finished our printing in art. We have been using foil to make prints. We also printed our Christmas cards this year. 

We are so immensly proud of every single one of Year 2 for their part in our Nativity. They all did so well with the singing, performing, signing and of course their lines. 

On Wednesday we enjoyed Alice in Wonderland Panto

The children have loved the free time this week that they have had to play and build with their friends 

Finally the big end of term celebrations yesterday included singing at the care home with our funky Christmas glasses, packed Christmas lunch and a visit from the main man himself, Father Christmas! 

Myself and the whole Year 2 want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU for all your kind words and gifts. We truly value your support and can't wait to see you and the children in 2026! Have a lovely festive break with your family and enjoy every last minute. Remember it's not what is under the Christmas tree that counts but who is there. 

🎄Merry Christmas🎄

Mrs Thorpe, Mrs Hibberd, Mrs Smith, Mrs March, Miss Taylor, Mrs Briant, Miss Aly and Miss Joyce.

Year 2: A busy, busy week!

We have been busy practising our Christmas performance, our dress rehearsal went really well today and we are looking forward to showing you all tomorrow and Thursday. 

As well as practising we have been printing in art, we had a go at making the prints on thick foil. This was really tricky. We have also been printing our Christmas cards. 

Year 2 have loved Forest school this half term. This week as an end of term treat they enjoyed smores. Forest School will continue next half term on a Thursday afternoon. 

We’ve noticed that a number of children’s cardigans and jumpers have gone missing recently. At school, we do our best to help the children look after their belongings and regularly remind them to put their jumpers and cardigans in their trays or lockers. However, items sometimes get misplaced, left around the classroom, or even borrowed by accident.

We also occasionally find jumpers with other children’s names in them, which can make it tricky to return them to the right owner.

We would really appreciate it if you could check at home for any school cardigans or jumpers that may have come home by mistake, and help your child remember to keep their uniform in a safe place.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep track of all our school uniforms!

Rest of the week

Tuesday: First performance to families

Wednesday: Christmas hot dinner, panto in the afternoon 

Thursday: Second performance to families, we will be having a Christmas film and in the afternoon the children can bring a game in to school to play. No electronics please and nothing too precious. 

Friday: Singing at the care home and special visitor in the afternoon 

What a drama! - The Great Fire of London

Hello Year 2 families,

We ended our Great Fire of London topic by stepping back in time to 2nd September 1666, thanks to Oakley’s mum, Jo, who helped bring history to life in a truly memorable way.

Using a magic key, we entered London through an invisible door and found ourselves right in the heart of the bustling city. The children took on the roles of market sellers, proudly selling their wares. We had fishmongers, candle makers, butchers, flower sellers, and fruit and vegetable stallholders — just to name a few!

Suddenly, there was a smell of burning… and then — FIRE!

Some children became the flames spreading through the city, while others bravely tried to put the fire out. It was an exciting and powerful way to experience the events of the past.

We finished by coming together to retell the story of the Great Fire of London, ending with a loud and hopeful shout in unison: “London will rise again!”

A huge thank you to Jo for such a fantastic immersive experience and for helping make our learning so special.