Homework
At St Peter’s we believe that homework supports children’s learning and provides opportunities to further develop the partnership between home and school. It enables children to become independent and responsible learners.
Homework focuses on the basics: Reading, spelling, writing and maths fluency as these are the building blocks of future learning, and regular practice helps to embed them. As children get older, retrieval practice helps them to develop long-term learning and grow more confident in what they do in the classroom.
Expectations of Homework
Homework is set by 3:00 pm on a Friday and will be due in the following Friday. This is in recognition of the busyness of family life and so allows families a whole week to dedicate a time where pupils can complete their homework. In EYFS is homework is set via an online platform. From Y1 a weekly home work sheet is handed out. Children in Y1-6 have a homework wallet to keep their homework sheets and reading book in.
| Year | Homework Expectation |
| R | – Daily reading / Phonics (10 minutes at least 5 times per week) – Daily Numeral recognition/ high frequency word activities daily (10 minutes) – Weekly task. E.g. shape hunt(from October half-term) |
| 1 | – Daily reading (10 minutes at least 5 times per week) – Weekly maths task l (15 minutes) – Weekly writing task |
| 2 | – Daily Reading (15 minutes at least 5 times per week) – Weekly maths task (15 minutes) – Learn spelling words for weekly test (5 minutes, 3 times a week) |
| 3 & 4 | – Daily Reading (15 minutes at least 5 times per week) – Weekly maths task focusing on times tables targets and core skills (20 minutes) – Learn spelling words for weekly test (10 minutes, 3 times a week) |
| 5 & 6 | – Daily Reading (20 minutes at least 5 times per week) – Weekly maths task focusing on times tables targets and core skills (30 minutes) – Learn spelling words for weekly test (10 minutes, 3 times a week) In Year 6 homework will include preparation for SATs,covering skills and understanding in maths, English and reading compreh ension in preparation for KS2 SATs. |
In addition to this table pupils might be set additional home learning tasks to address any gaps in knowledge or to prepare them for national tests, eg Y1 Phonics Screening Check, Y4 Timestables check and Y6 SATs
READING
“Evidence suggests that there is a positive relationship between reading frequency, reading enjoyment and attainment” (Clark 2011; Clark and Douglas 2011).
From Reception to Year 6, children are expected to share books and/or read daily (at least 5 days a week). It is equally important that children are read to as well as being listened to read. This is because they need to be exposed to the rich language and story plots beyond their own reading ability to achieve their potential in reading and writing.
In EYFS and Key Stage 1 the children have home/school reading diaries to monitor reading fluency and comprehension as well as the quantity of books being read.
In Years 3-6 the teachers monitor pupils’ reading diet, fluency and comprehension. Reading at home remains an important aspect of learning in Key Stage 2 and is expected that frequency of reading practice remains high. Even the best readers need to spend some time reading aloud to improve expression, intonation and to deepen understanding of punctuation. Teachers will encourage and monitor discussion about books being read at home.
MATHS
Knowing the times tables (and their associated division facts) supports mathematical learning and understanding and those children who have a strong grasp of them tend to be more self-assured when learning new concepts. All children are expected to know all of their times tables by the end of Y4.
In EYFS a regular Maths activity will be set. Photographs and parent comments will be submitted via an online platform.
In Year 1 and 2 a weekly maths task will be set on a weekly ‘fluency number’ sheet with optional online maths tasks and game. In Y2 pupils will need to know their 2, 5 and 10 times tables off by heart.
In Years 3-6 Maths tasks will be set weekly to practice times table and number fluency. This will be via a maths worksheet alongside ‘Timestables Rockstars’. In Y3 children need to know their 3, 4 and 8 times tables and by the end of Y4 pupils need to know all of their times tables off by hear up to 12.
SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION
EYFS will have a new set of ‘Winston words‘ to learn each half-term. Children should learn to recognise and read them first and then to spell them.
Year 1 will set a weekly writing sheet which will include spelling practice.
Years 2-6 will set a given a weekly spelling sheet to be completed at home using the ‘Look-say-cover-write-check method. A weekly spelling test will take place on a Friday. Ideally pupils should practice their spelling over at least three days to ensure the learning is secured within their long term memory. It is also important that pupils copy their spelling words in joined up handwriting as research shows this improves the learning of spellings. The spellings in the weekly test will be a combination of common exception words and spellings with a particular word pattern from the current week’s work as well as revision from previous weeks’ work.
