Homework

Homework Policy

After a consultation with pupils, parents and staff, we have reviewed our approach to homework. Our intention is to ensure homework is productive and concentrates on developing key skills. We want homework to be helpful but never too onerous for pupils or parents.

With this in mind our homework overview is as follows:

Each year group has a list of key objectives to be covered at home. These objectives will last the entire year.
These key objectives will be found at the front of individual homework books.
It is expected, over the course of the year, that these objectives will be worked on at home so that pupils have a confident grasp of basic skills required for each year group.
The homework book can be used to record activities if required. It is not expected that every activity will be noted in the book. There are many practical opportunities for consolidating these skills, which do not require a written outcome.
At regular intervals, teachers will ask to see these homework books. This is not to check up on each child but rather to gain a flavour of the type of activity taking place and to share ideas. Teachers will not need to check up on children, as such, because it will become clear during lessons, which pupils are not working on key skills. It will be the parents of these children who will then be invited into school to discuss possible next steps including further intervention.
Teachers will also provide more open-ended activities each term as an extra stimulus.
It is expected that reading will continue to take place at least three times a week, where children will be reading their school reading book, home book of their choice or accessing Bug Club. Bug Club is a great on-line resource to develop comprehension skills and we highly recommend this option.

Reception already have a homework structure in place based on Early Years key skills.

Please continue to record in their planner when your child has done this. Classes will have their own incentives in place to encourage regular reading.

Key Homework Objectives

Year 1 Homework Objectives

To count in 2s, 5s and 10s
To recognise numbers up to 100
To know one more/less than a given number
To know number bonds to 10 and 20 e.g. 7 + 3 = 10 12 + 8 = 20
To be able to spell all words in the common exception list
Reading – what do you think might happen next? How is the character feeling?

Year 2 Homework Objectives

To know 2x, 5x, 10x tables and corresponding division facts
To add 2-digit numbers within 100
Read the time to the nearest 15 mins
To be able to spell all words in the common exception list
To use capital letters and full stops correctly
Reading – to answer questions by retrieving information from the text

Year 3 Homework Objectives

To be able to count in 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s , 8s and 10s
To know multiplication and division facts for the 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 x tables
To be able to spell all words in the common exception list
To be able to use a dictionary correctly.
Reading – to be able to retell fairy tales
To summarise what you have read
To describe characters’ thoughts and feelings and why they act the way they

Year 4 Homework Objectives

To know multiplication and division facts up to 12 x 1

3 x 7 = 21 21 ÷ 3 = 7

To know number bonds to 10 and 100

7 + 3 = 10 77 + 23 = 100

To be able to spell all words in the common exception list
To spell words containing key spelling patterns
Reading – To make predictions for future events
To summarise a paragraph,
To describe characters thoughts and feelings

Year 5 Homework Objectives

To know multiplication and division facts up to 12 x 12

3 x 7 = 21 21 ÷ 3 = 7

To know number bonds to 10, 100 and 1000

7 + 3 = 10 77 + 23 = 100 750 + 250 = 1000

To be able to spell all words in the common exception list
To spell words containing key spelling patterns – words containing ‘ough’

– ei after C (ee sound)

Reading – to read a range of modern fiction
To summarise ideas from more than one paragraph
To make predictions for future events
To begin to develop a list of preferred authors and books, with reasons

Year 6 Homework Objectives

To know all tables facts to 12 x 12 fluently (and out of order).
To know all pairs of numbers that total 10, 20 and 100 fluently (and out of order).
To spell all words from Y5/6 list. (See attached).
To learn weekly spelling RULE
To practise words in spelling pot and previous spelling rules.
To practise joined handwriting as necessary.
To practise any individual concepts as necessary.
Take some responsibility for own learning and take initiative to ask / practise at home independently.

Some further information to help you on your way:

When completing homework, we want to remind our pupils of our core learning qualities: ambition, independence, perseverance, inquisitiveness, resilience and respect. Homework should not be a chore – a struggle between parent and child. It can be little and often but it does require effort, organisation and creative use of time (e.g. chanting tables on the journey into school). We hope you find this new approach positive!