Homework from September 2024

At WPA, we try to ensure we always endeavour to find a balance. We have carried out research and listened to parents and so, have made some changes with regards to homework for September 2024. As before, most homework will be accessed via Google Classroom and each child has a login. All children are expected to read each week and carry out homework. Parents will send handwritten/ physical work in (where appropriate) and upload photos and completed homework to Google Classroom.

What is expected?

Reception – Year 6 - Termly At the start of each half term, teachers will set a topic-based homework based on what is being learnt that term e.g. Rivers, Tudors, Expeditions etc. This will be a menu of around 6 activities linked to the topic which the children can choose from. Children do not need to do them all and have the half term to carry them out and send them in.

General weekly – Short weekly homework will be sent out on a Wednesday and needs to be returned/ submitted to school by Monday for feedback and next steps.

Reception, Y1 and Y2 will also be set a weekly phonics/spelling task – uploaded to Google Classroom.

Y1 and Y2 may also begin to introduce a short Maths task when appropriate; this may be number bonds, Times Table Rockstars etc. Reception will include a Maths/ number-based task in their Topic Menu homework.

Y3,4,5,6 will also be set a weekly spelling homework. They will also be set Times Table Rockstars work which will be monitored. Y6 will also be set SATS preparation homework and materials, including CGP.

Homework is always based on what we are doing in class so parents know what we are doing too. It is important that all children carry out the homework so that children are supported both at home and school to achieve their potential (see Google classroom guide)

Homework is anything children do outside the normal school day that contributes to their learning. It is not the same as remote learning as this is designed to replicate school day learning virtually and support children and their families when they cannot attend.

Homework encompasses a whole variety of activities instigated by teachers to support the children's learning. Homework is an important part of a child's education, and can add to a child's attitude to learning and development. We believe children can benefit greatly from the complementary learning that they do at home; it is an important part of the learning partnership between pupils, teachers and parents. One of the aims of our teaching is for children to develop as independent learners, and we believe that taking part in Homework enables our pupils to further develop their independence and organisational skills.

Homework is planned and prepared alongside all other programmes of learning and developed in conjunction with all staff and in response to the children’s varying needs.

We acknowledge the important role of play and free time in a child's growth and development. Whilst we value Homework, it is important that it should not prevent children from taking part in a wide variety of extended schools opportunities both at and beyond school.

From the first week of term, all children are sent home with a reading book and reading record. In Reception, this will start off with picture books and move through the phonics stages of different sounds the children are learning. Please read with them daily, discuss the story and ask them questions about the book. We look forward to working in partnership with parents and reading your comments so we can gain a full picture of each child. Please ensure you fill in and send your child’s reading book in daily. See https://www.wantageprimaryacademy.org.uk/english-1/ for more info.

From the start, children will be set homework. At WPA, all homework is accessed via Google Classroom. 

When you join WPA, you will receive your child’s Google Classroom login. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88idNZxeZbo to support you to support your child.

Please send handwritten work in where appropriate and upload photos, tasks and completed homework to Google Classroom each week. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this through. I appreciate it’s a lot of information but will hopefully answer most of your questions. We look forward to welcoming you all back.

Aims

The aims of Homework are:

• to help pupils develop the skills of an independent and curious learner;
• to share learning with parents and to empower
• to consolidate skills and understanding and extend school learning;
• to promote cooperation between home and school in supporting each child's learning.

We give all our pupils a reading diary in which their teachers, TAs and parents/carers record observations. The homework will usually be handed out on a Wednesday and be returned the following Monday to give teachers the opportunity to check it through before handing out the next piece.

Inclusion in Homework

We set Homework for all children as a normal part of school life. We ensure that all tasks set are appropriate to the ability of the child, and we endeavour to adapt any task set so that all children can contribute in a positive way. When setting Homework to pupils who are named on the SEND Register, we may refer to those pupils' individual learning plans.

Parent Partnership

We recognise the valuable role that parents have in Homework. They can support, encourage, model tasks and provide information for the class teacher. We ask parents to encourage their child to complete the homework tasks that are set. We invite them to help their children as and when they feel it to be necessary and to provide them with the sort of environment that allows children to do their best.