Home Learning

At Wheatlands Primary School we recognise and value the contribution that learning in the home environment can make to children’s education.

It is known that parents are the most important influence in a child’s life. Any educational initiative can only be fully effective if there is partnership between parents, children and providers. This policy sets out the purpose and benefits of home learning and the guidelines we follow when setting home learning activities for our children.

Definition

We view ‘home learning’ as tasks and activities that are undertaken outside of school curriculum time.

Aims:

At Wheatlands we believe that home learning should:

• Involve parents and carers in their child’s education
• Allow children to practise the basic skills of reading, writing and maths which are key for success in life
• Compliment and extend the learning completed at school
• Encourage children to develop the responsibility, confidence and self-discipline needed to study independently

The Role of Parents and Carers:

The support of parents and carers is essential for children to make the most of their home learning opportunities. Parents and carers can help by:

• Encouraging children to complete the tasks that are set for them, explaining how it can help their learning.
• Providing a suitable place, away from distractions, where children can work.
• Becoming actively involved and supporting their child with the different activities.
• Giving due importance to non-written tasks such as listening to children read on a regular basis and the school’s promotion of reading.
• Assisting with the learning of weekly spellings and times tables.
• Keeping school informed of any changes in the child’s circumstances which may affect learning.

Tasks

It is important to remember that home learning activities can be set in many different forms with different expectations and outcomes, the nature and type of homework changes throughout a child’s school life. As children get older, the amount and frequency of homework will increase – this may also vary throughout the school year. The table on page 3 sets out the tasks and activities that children in each year group are expected to carry out at home.

 

Making it Manageable

Homework should not be a stressful experience between parent and child. This leads to poor learning and defeats the whole purpose. Please contact your child’s teacher if this is happening.

Depending on the age/task set homework may be marked together in class.

Children should be encouraged to complete homework tasks through the school’s reward system (rather than being punished for non-completion). No child should be kept in to complete homework, if they request to an opportunity can be provided.

Feedback

As a school we recognise the importance of providing prompt and accurate feedback to children, parents and carers on how well home learning tasks have been tackled and the knowledge, skills and understanding that are being developed. A variety of methods will be used to provide feedback, including:

• Immediate feedback by parents during completion of the task/activity.
• Discussion in class where the home learning tasks form part of the class work.
• Through tests such as spellings or times tables.
• Presentation of the home learning activities and projects to the class.
• Displays of home learning activities and projects.
• Written comments from the class teacher.

We are committed to the highest possible level of partnership and are always open to new suggestions on how we can improve.

HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS
Year Group	Reading	Phonics/Spelling	English/Maths	Creative Curriculum
Nursery	Children can choose a book to bring home each week.	A practical learning challenge will be sent home each week.	A practical learning challenge will be sent home each week.
Reception	A levelled reading book will be sent home each week	Phonics – A short list of words will be sent home each week for children to practise reading, sounding out and writing down.	A practical learning challenge will be sent home each week.
Y1	Children should spend time reading aloud to an adult each night.		A piece of number work will be sent home each week in order to practice basic skills.	A project linked to a curriculum area will be set each term ie 3 creative projects per school year.
Y2	Children should spend time reading aloud to an adult each night.		A piece of number work will be sent home each week in order to practice basic skills.	A project linked to a curriculum area will be set each term ie 3 creative projects per school year.
Y3	Children should spend time reading aloud to an adult each night.		A piece of maths or English work will be sent home each week. Children should also spend time practising their times tables in preparation for regular tests.	A project linked to a curriculum area will be set each term ie 3 creative projects per school year.
Y4	Children should spend time reading aloud to an adult each night.		A piece of maths or English work will be sent home each week. Children should also spend time practising their times tables in preparation for regular tests.	A project linked to a curriculum area will be set each term ie 3 creative projects per school year.
Y5	Children should spend time reading aloud to an adult each night. They should also spend sustained periods of time reading independently.		A piece of maths or English work will be sent home each week. Children should also spend time practising their times tables in preparation for regular tests.	A project linked to a curriculum area will be set each term i.e. 3 creative projects per school year.
Y6	Children should spend sustained periods of time reading independently.		A piece of maths and English work will be sent home each week. Children should spend time revising in the weeks prior to assessments.	A project linked to a curriculum area will be set each term i.e. 3 creative projects per school year.