Homework Policy The Governing Body of Blandford St Mary Primary School is committed to promoting equality and diversity. By recognising and appreciating individual needs and differences the school will be broadly representative of the communities it serves, and be a place where children and staff will thrive – physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. This will be achieved by implementing equal opportunities and diversity practice across the three dimensions of the School’s activity: as an employer; an educator; and a resource of the local community.
Blandford St Mary Primary school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. These posts will require a criminal record bureau check via the CRB. Date Adopted: June 12 Review Date: June 13
In B o urne mo uth, D o rs e t a nd P o o le
POLICIES/Homework Policy
HOMEWORK POLICY This Policy has been produced by the Headteacher and governors in consultation with staff, parents and children, Autumn 2005 We appreciate that parents are fully supportive of their child's welfare and academic progress. We acknowledge that parents are the first educators of their children and they are a vital part of their child’s learning progress. We believe as a school that a child's best interests are served when home and school collaborate to provide opportunities for the child to practise, extend and consolidate his or her knowledge and skills through a home/school agreement on homework.
THE PURPOSE OF HOMEWORK ♦ For home and school to work together to enable pupils to make all possible progress especially in literacy and numeracy. ♦ To consolidate and reinforce skills and understanding particularly in literacy and numeracy. At Key Stage 1 (4 - 7 years) children will be given activities such as games, spellings, numbers, facts and reading. At Key Stage 2 (7 - 9 years) the main purpose gradually changes to providing opportunities for them to develop the skill of independent learning. ♦ To give opportunities for children to benefit from different perspectives on their learning e.g. taking a message over the 'phone, helping to check a shopping bill - i.e. seeing their learning in a 'real' context. ♦ To extend school learning e.g. through additional reading, use of a home computer or interviewing. ♦ To enable parents to gain a greater understanding of the work their child is doing in the classroom.
KINDS OF TASKS PUPILS WILL BE EXPECTED TO DO The main focus will be on Literacy and Numeracy. At Key Stage 2 there may be occasional assignments in other subjects. The most important way parents can support their child is in reading on a daily basis with and to their child from a wide variety of sources. Number tasks will be
POLICIES/Homework Policy
set on a regular basis throughout the year. Some children may occasionally be asked to complete work which should have been finished in class time. The school will do its best to ensure that all homework activities will be thought out to meet individual needs as far as possible. For example, those children with special needs will have homework set with a clear outcome and plenty of opportunity to succeed. At Key Stage 1 and early Key Stage 2, games may be most appropriate to further develop social skills.
THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR HOMEWORK ACTIVITIES. ACTIVITIES Reception
Daily reading; Jolly Phonics sounds books and key word games
Year 1
[1 x weekly] Daily reading, high frequency words, range of spellings [later]; range of other basic crosscurricular activities.
Year 2
[1 x weekly ~ Monday] Daily reading; differentiated spellings ~ LA LCWC key words; MA vocabulary based on current class work, HA more difficult current vocabulary; Literacy / Maths tasks alternating weekly [in addition to spellings]
Year 3
[1 x weekly 30 mins ~ extending to 2 x shorter 20 minute homework’s in Summer term] daily reading; differentiated spellings [LCWC] and sentences putting words in context, and more able children to include spellings in stories; mental maths; occasional topic or research.
Year 4
[2 x weekly Monday/ Wednesday] daily reading [chasing chasing target readers]; readers] differentiated spellings; Literacy and Numeracy tasks; occasional topic / research.
Years 5 & 6
2 hours. As Year Four, plus extra topic research.
However, it is the quality of time spent which is crucial.
POLICIES/Homework Policy
WHAT IS EXPECTED EXPECTED OF TEACHERS? ♦ Homework is set over a manageable time period appropriate to the age of the child. ♦ High quality and relevance of tasks - planned as part of the schemes of work for Literacy and Numeracy and other areas of the curriculum as appropriate. ♦ Feedback to pupils is given, for example through class discussion, tests or individual teacher comments on written assignments. ♦ An invitation to parents to give constructive and positive feedback on homework where possible.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PARENTS? PARENTS? ♦ To provide their child with space and time and any support required to do their homework on time. ♦ To make it clear to their children that they value homework and support the school in explaining how it can help with learning. ♦ To encourage their children and praise them when the homework is completed. ♦ Become actively involved in the homework of young children, e.g. in playing games. ♦ Expect older children to begin to work independently whenever possible.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PUPILS? ♦ For them to listen to their teacher so that they can understand their homework and to ask questions if they are confused. ♦ To be sure how long they have to complete the homework. ♦ To bring the homework back into school on time. ♦ To do their best to learn from any feedback given to them.
POLICIES/Homework Policy
MONITORING THE POLICY The Senior Management Team is responsible for ensuring that procedures are operating properly and that homework is planned into the medium/short term planning by teachers for the term and that homework is on the agenda of at least one staff meeting a term.
POLICIES/Homework Policy