Homework Policy
What is homework? Task given to children to be completed outside the school setting.
The purpose of homework is to:
– Develop an effective partnership between the school and parents and other – –
carers in pursuing the aim of the school.
– Consolidating and reinforcing skills and understanding, particularly in literacy
and numeracy
– Exploiting resources for learning of all kinds at home
– Extending school learning, for example through additional reading.
– Encouraging pupils as they get older to develop the confidence and self
discipline needed to study on their own, and preparing them for requirements of
secondary school.
Through this policy, we aim to
- Ensure consistency of approach throughout the school
- Ensure progression towards independence and individual responsibility
- Ensure the needs of individual children are taken into account
- Ensure parents / guardian have a clear understanding about expectations from themselves and the pupil
- Improve quality of learning experience offered to pupils, extend and support the learning experience via reinforcement and revision
- Provide opportunities for parents and pupil to work together
- Encourage children to develop long term strategies for future needs.
- In Year 6, to prepare children for secondary transfer.
As our children get older, the purpose of homework will change
For children in Key Stage 1, developing partnership with parent or carer and involving them actively in children’s learning is the key purpose.
As children progress through Key Stage 2, homework provides opportunities for children to develop the skills of independent learning and this should increasingly become its main purpose.
It is important that children get into the habit of regularly devoting periods of time, which may not be long to study on their own.
Type and amount of homework for pupils of different ages
The main focus of homework for children in primary schools would be Literacy and Numeracy.
Science and other subjects will be added as our children move up the school.
Homework is not just a formal exercise carried out by children without help from adults in case of younger children, it is the involvement of parents and carers in joint activities, though can be brief, is most valuable in promoting children’s learning.
Regular reading is vital.
For children in Keg Stage 1, homework will consist of regular reading with parents and carer.
Other Literacy related homework will include learning spellings and practicing correct punctuation, grammar & comprehension
In Numeracy, task will include simple number games tasks and more formal exercise for older children.
In addition to these regular activities, older children will be given some homework increasing in its demand. These will be differentiated where appropriate, to take account of individual pupils’ needs and abilities.
Activities might include;
- Finding out information
- Reading in preparation for lessons
- Preparing oral presentations
- More traditional written assignments
It is important to note that the amount of time spent on homework is much less important than the quality of task set and the way they are planned to support learning.
Time allocation for homework
Year Group Time Homework
Nursery 30minutes /day Phonics / Number work Colouring, Reading
Year 1 and 2 45 mins / day Reading, Spelling, other Literacy and Numeracy work
Year 3 and 4 45mins / day Literacy and Numeracy with
occasional assignments in other
subjects
Year 5 and 6 1 hour / day Regular weekly schedule with continued emphasis on Literacy,
Numeracy and Science but also
ranging widely over the curriculum
Homework schedule
KS1: Reading – daily (schools reading scheme + Literacy books.)
Spellings – Monday, to be tested on Wednesday
Handwriting – once weekly
Numeracy-at least twice a week
Grammar / comprehension – at least once a week.
KS2: Will continue the above pattern but will have a fortnightly topic
related task.
Topic related task will be handed in a week after it is given.
The role of parent and carers in supporting pupils
Parents and carers are expected to:
- Provide a reasonable peaceful, suitable place in which pupil can do their homework alone or more often for younger children, together with an adult.
- Make it clear to pupils that they value homework and support the school in explaining how it can help their learning
- Encourage pupils and praise them when they have completed homework
- Parent or carers should sign their children’s homework diary once the task is completed.
- If a child is not able to complete their task for any reason, parents should please write in to inform the teacher. There is a space for comments and remark in the homework diary.