Home Learning

Homework is set in accordance with government guidelines and aims to:

* foster an effective partnership between school and home in attaining the school’s aims.
* consolidate and reinforce skills and understanding, particularly in literacy and numeracy;
* extend school learning
* encourage older children to study more independently so preparing them for the requirements of secondary school.

Government recommendations for the amount of homework to be set are detailed below.

Years 3 and 4 – 20 minutes a day

Years 5 and 6 – 30 minutes a day
How we will achieve it

Home learning is set at the beginning of the school week and is collected along with homework diaries by teachers at the end of the week. At this point teachers are able to respond to parents’ and carers’ comments and mark home learning. Where it is considered appropriate by the class teacher, home learning may be differentiated.

Home learning can fulfill a number of different purposes:

Learning activities may be set to consolidate key skills such as spellings or reading fluency in Literacy. We hope that whenever possible children will be heard reading by an adult at home on a daily basis, and encourage children to read a wide range of texts, many of which come from our extensive library.

In Numeracy key skills such as number bonds and times tables may form part of the homework or it may be that the learning activities set are based on the learning in class for any particular week in order to provide children with an additional opportunity to work independently.

As children progress through the school they may be encouraged to undertake homework which encourages greater independence in learning, for example researching an area of study to be covered in class by finding specific information or reading in preparation for lessons.

In year six, as part of the lead up to National Assessments, home learning is set from study books, provided by the school, to allow children to revisit and consolidate their learning.

Home learning diaries

All children are provided with a home learning diary in which to record the details of home learning set on any specific day. The diary also provides an opportunity for parents and carers to “sign home learning off” as well as feedback to teachers on any home learning related issues.

The most important aspect of home learning is that if a pupil is experiencing a difficulty they bring this into school to share the next day and it will be sorted out, no doubt helping others as well. Home learning is not meant to add stress and upset because pupils learn really effectively during the day and are tired when they get home, particularly if they take part in other clubs or sports outside school as well.

We would encourage any parent or carer with a concern to come in to school and discuss it with us so that we can help, explain and change things so that any problems can be overcome. The expectation is that home learning opportunities will be part of our educational provision and that all pupils take part.

‘Working together we can ensure your child learns successfully and happily’