Homework Policy and Guidelines

Introduction

Purpose of Homework

Reception, Y1 and Y2. KS 1 (Classes 1 and 2)

Spelling

Reading - Y3 and Y4 (Class 3 Ks2)

Y5 and Y6 (Class 4 Ks2)

Spellings (Y3 - Y6)

Maths games and Tables (Y3 - Y6)

Other work (Y3 - Y6)

How Can Parents Help

Introduction

Homework Policy and Guidelines
September 2006 - July 2007

We appreciate how important the links between home and school are, and the need for us to work together to ensure a good education for your children. It is for this reason that we believe that it is important that children begin to bring 'work' home from a fairly young age.

This enables you to help your child to learn and for them to see parents and teachers working together. As the children get older and go on to secondary school the 'work' brought home becomes even more important.

Our approach to 'homework' varies according to the age of the child. The one thing that remains constant throughout is the fact that it can only benefit the child if we have your support. Back to top

Purpose of Homework

* To develop an effective home - school partnership to help each pupil learn
* To reinforce learning which has taken place in school;
* To develop the skills and attitudes of independent study in readiness for lifelong learning. Back to top

Reception, Y1 and Y2. KS 1 (Classes 1 and 2)

Our policy is to send home a reading book to be read and enjoyed.

Reading books will come home on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Reading obviously is a very important area and each child will bring a reading book home in their reading bags accompanied by a reading record book. Not only is this used to keep a record of the books read but it is also a means of you commenting on your child's reading. Please help us by making sure that you date this book when you hear your child read and feel free to add comments. Back to top

Spelling

The Reception children will eventually bring home words to be practised and learnt. The Y1 & Y2 children may also bring home words to be learnt. They need to learn the words with the LOOK, COVER, WRITE, CHECK, method.

Maths games or sheets will be sent home ,instead of reading books, on a Monday and Wednesday. Please take time to play the games. They compliment the objectives being taught in school and it would be great if you could extend them. The sheets will be based on work they have done during class teaching. Back to top

Reading - Y3 and Y4 (Class 3 Ks2)

Reading - Y3 and Y4 (Class 3 Ks2)
The children will continue to bring reading books home on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. It is really important that the children are heard to read at this stage as this will help with fluency and expression. All reading books regardless whether it is finished or not, need to be in school EVERY MONDAY and WEDNESDAY for Class 3. Back to top

Y5 and Y6 (Class 4 Ks2)

The children will also continue to bring reading books home. Some children, in agreement with the class teacher, may wish to read books from home. All reading books and record books must be brought in every FRIDAY. Back to top

Spellings (Y3 - Y6)

The children will bring spellings home weekly to be learnt. They will be tested on these spellings. Back to top

Maths games and Tables (Y3 - Y6)

Maths games or activities will come home on a Monday and Wednesday. These need to be played and concepts extended. As with reading these should take 10 to 15 minutes each activity. Tables will also be set. Back to top

Other work (Y3 - Y6)

One task a week will be set for Y3 to Y6.
This homework will include consolidating class work; practising basic skills; developing lines of enquiry or preparing work for a following lesson. The tasks may be more project based as we feel time spent at home should be relevant to studies in school.

This work should take about 30 minutes for Y3/Y4 children,
45 minutes for Y5/Y6 children.
If the child has spent the allocated time , then sign the diary and state this. Sometimes a longer task will be set, lasting several weeks, but will still be monitored weekly. The work returned to school will be expected to be of the same standard achieved in school. Children who do not do their homework, will be asked to do so during their playtimes. We will obviously take into account illness or home circumstances that affect the returning of completed tasks.

The Y6 children will get increasingly more homework as the terms progress.

Each child will have a Homework Diary. The homework is recorded by the children in these and indicated when it was set, what has to be done and by when. In addition to the above during the week, if any classwork has not been completed it will be sent home for finishing and returning the following day. Homework will ALWAYS be set on a MONDAY and returned to school on a FRIDAY. We feel very strongly that weekends should be weekends. Back to top

How Can Parents Help

* Provide a reasonably peaceful, suitable place where your child can do their homework, with the fewest distractions.
* Parents should work out the best time for doing homework, (taking into account other activities such as clubs, music practice, favourite T.V. programmes, Cubs, Brownies)
* If asked, parents should help to explain something, or advise about how to set about a task, but must not do it themselves.
* Make it clear to your child that you value homework and support the school in explaining how it can help their learning.
* Encourage your child and praise them when they have completed their homework.
* Please check the Homework Diary weekly and help your child to get into good routines for getting the work finished. We would ask you to support us by making sure that you sign your child's Homework Diary each week.
* If you need any further guidance about homework, please contact the class teacher.

Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards, Tina Buck Back to top