All Saints’ Church of England Primary School

How you can support your child at home

Homework is anything children do outside the normal school day that contributes to their learning, in response to guidance from the school. Homework encompasses a whole variety of activities instigated by teachers and parents/carers to support the children's learning. For example, parents or carers who spend time reading stories to their children before bedtime are helping with homework. At All Saints, we believe that homework is an important part of a child's education, and can add much to a child's development. We see homework as an important example of cooperation between teachers and parents/carers.

What are our aims?

The aims and objectives of homework are:

• to enable pupils to make maximum progress in their academic and social development;

• to help pupils develop the skills of an independent learner;

• to promote cooperation between home and school in supporting each child's learning;

• to enable some aspects of the curriculum to be further explored independently;

• to provide educational experiences not possible in school;

• to consolidate and reinforce the learning done in school, and to allow children to practice skills taught in lessons;

• to help children develop good work habits for the future

English

Listening to your child read can take many forms:

• First and foremost, focus on developing an enjoyment and love of reading.

• Enjoy stories together – reading stories to your child is equally as important as listening to your child read.

• Read a little at a time but often rather than rarely but for long periods of time.

• Talk about the story before, during and afterwards – discuss the plot, the characters, their feelings and actions, how it makes you feel, predict what will happen and encourage your child to have their own opinions.

• Look up definitions of words together – you could use a dictionary, the internet or an app on a phone or tablet.

• All reading is valuable – it doesn’t just have to be stories. Reading can involve anything from fiction and non-fiction, poetry, newspapers, magazines, football programmes, TV guides.

In order to support your writing:

• Practise and learn weekly spelling lists – make it fun!

• Encourage opportunities for writing, such as letters to family or friends, shopping lists, notes or reminders, stories or poems.

• Write together – be a good role model for writing.

• Encourage use of a dictionary to check spelling.

• Allow your child to use a computer for word processing which encourages editing.

• Remember that good readers become good writers. Identify good writing features when reading.

Useful Links:

Bug Club

Education City

BBC

BBC Skillswise

Mathematics

Children’s calculation skills can be greatly boosted by help at home, in the same way that help with spelling and reading can nurture their literacy skills. The impact of parents on their children’s learning is significant – increased engagement can lead to a 30% improvement in attainment!

Useful links:

Times Tables Rock Stars - A carefully sequenced programme of daily times tables practice.

Education City - Engaging, educational resources and games for students

MyMaths - Lessons, games and extension activities that will match each year group’s objectives.

BBC Bitesize - Information, games and quizzes relating to number, handling data, shape, space and measure.

Hit The Button - Quick fire questions on number bonds, doubles, halves, times tables, division facts and square numbers against the clock – an app is also available for tablets.

Top Marks - Lots of different maths games and activities to explore.