Children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are set weekly homework.

There are different expectations for different year groups and these are shared in Meet the Teacher meetings in September and regular updates are on class ClassDojo.

Home Learning

Following the initial consultation with staff and families it was concluded that homework remains a valued part of school life and that it is desirable for it to continue. We have taken on board the comments made and would therefore like to make a proposal for home learning, across the Three Schools.

The amount and type of home learning should vary depending on the age and developmental stage of the child. Always bear in mind that some children will grasp a task and complete the learning quickly, whilst others will take longer to finish it. Homework should not be a negative experience but should enhance the knowledge and understanding of the child. If this is not the case, please approach it from a different perspective.

We recommend that you set a time limit for any homework task, although you may wish to break this into multiple sessions, rather than one longer period. For KS1 this could be between 15-30 minutes, extending to 30-40 minutes in Years 3&4 and 40-50 minutes in Years 5&6. If it is not completed within that time, please make a note for your child’s class teacher. However please don’t persist for a whole session of frustration, stress and upset. End the session and again inform the class teacher.

It is vital that home learning does not reinforce any negative feelings towards learning or self. It should also not damage relationships within families. The most effective use of homework is when parents engage with their child’s learning. Spending time discussing the learning and showing that it is valued creates the greatest outcomes.

The following identifies some specific elements of home learning and how we are aiming to clarify the process.

Home-Learning Grids

• The knowledge organiser sheets for Maths, History, Geography, Science, RE, Computing, DT, Art and PSHE will be shared at the start of each new unit.

• An overview of the topics covered across the academic year will be shared following the transition day, when the children will have met their new teacher.

Homework

• All homework will be issued on Friday and returned by the following Thursday. The exception to this may be during the summer term in Year 6, to prepare the children for the changing demands of secondary school.

• Homework tasks will be linked to the learning that has been completed, or on occasions the learning that the children will be working on next.

Spellings

• KS1 overview sheets may be sent home, to show what has been learnt in class that week.

• KS2 spellings follow the Twinkl scheme. Spellings will be issued on Fridays and tested the following Thursday.

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Reading

• Children are expected to read at least four times each week.

• Parents/carers should write in the child’s Reading Journal to indicate when the child has completed the book, or to share any relevant information.

Extras

• In KS2 children will have access to Times Table Rockstars (TTRS), which they are encouraged to access frequently. Awards will be presented in school. Yr2 will be given access in the summer term.

• Children will have access to Mathletics, which they are encouraged to use frequently.

• The children take turns to do a Book Recommendation for their class. This takes a slightly different format, depending on the age of the child, but only happens at least once each year.

• In EYFS there is a class bear that each child will have the opportunity to take home for the week. There is an accompanying scrap book for sharing the activities that the bear did, whilst with the child/family.

Rewards and Sanctions

Research shows that once extrinsic motivators are used, not only does their impact wane over time, but if subsequently removed, people are less motivated than before the rewards were given. Intrinsic motivation is encouraged, through valuing the tasks that are set.

• Children will receive no automatic reward for completing the expected homework. They may however receive house points or stickers (depending on age) for work that demonstrates either excellence or outstanding effort.

• Children who do not complete their homework will be reminded that it can be handed in the following day. In Key Stage 2, if the homework is still not completed, then the child may be expected to complete some of it during part of their break time.

• Children in Year 6 may be kept in to read, if they have not read the requisite number of times.

• There will be no rewards given for the children reading at home. The benefits they receive from developing their reading ability are broad and sustained throughout the child’s life.

Home learning expectations

Resources to use at home

Below are a variety of attachments with a wide variety of websites and resources that parents may find useful during the time of School closure - We will aim to update this on a regular basis so please continue to revisit this document to see if there are any useful resources to help at home. 

Online Learning 

From 1st September 2021, if your child is isolating, you can access the current class learning via Class Dojo or Evidence Me. Work can then be uploaded to share with your child's teacher. 

• Children are not expected to complete work if they are sick, only if they are away from school