‘A genius is a talented person who does his homework’. Thomas Edison
Helping a child to learn at home can and should be a positive experience. The individual attention an adult can give, even if only for a short time, can help to motivate a child, further build confidence and self-esteem and promote progress. The attention given at home also means that the child understands the value that each child’s family put on education.
We recognise the importance of the role of parents and carers as a child’s first educators. This role does not diminish once their child is in school. A working partnership between school and home enhances the educational development of the child and so helps raise attainment. We consider any help that parents/carers feel able to offer their child/children at home as extremely worthwhile.
Home Learning in Reception
Children take home sounds and words each week linked to their phonics focus. The children are asked to make their own tin at home that will contain the graphemes and tricky words the children have been taught that week and also from previous weeks at school. Adults are then asked to practise these sounds and words with their child. Children will also have a weekly reading book sent home. We encourage parents to help their child to sound and blend the words to further develop these skills.
Home Learning in Year 1
A weekly reading book is sent home for the children to read with an adult at home. We encourage parents to read this book more than once to promote reading fluency and develop reading comprehension.
Children have access to Numbots at home. This supports number fluency and the knowledge and application of number bonds. Certificates are given to the children in school for stage completion. We recommend accessing this application five times per week for up to 5 minutes at a time.
CGP books are sent home each week. This home learning focuses on KS1 English Reading comprehension. Teachers select a specific page from the book that links to the current learning in class. This may include a particular topic focus or linked to a specific curriculum skill being taught that week.
As part of our Subject Knowledge Organiser, there are four additional creative tasks that children can complete. It is compulsory for each child to complete one task per half term, however, they can complete more if they wish.
Home Learning in Year 2
A weekly reading book is sent home with each child. This book is to share with an adult at home and we encourage the re-reading of the book. While we ask parents to support their child to develop fluency and expression, we also ask parents to continue to support comprehension skills by asking questions as well as discussing key vocabulary and comparing texts.
Children have access to Numbots at home. This supports number fluency and the knowledge and application of number bonds. Children who have started to use this application regularly in Year 1 will find the challenges increase as they progress further through the application. Certificates are given to the children in school for stage completion. We recommend accessing this application five times per week for up to 5 minutes at a time.
CGP books are sent home each week. This home learning focuses on comprehension and contains a short passage followed by a selection of questions for the children to answer. Teachers select a specific page from the book that links to the current learning in class. This may include a particular topic focus or linked to a specific curriculum skill being taught that week.
As part of our Subject Knowledge Organiser, there are an additional four creative tasks that children can complete. It is compulsory for each child to complete one task per half term, however, they can complete more if they wish.
Additional Learning opportunities
Mrs Murphy runs her own Spelling and Reading challenges. These challenges involve children learning to read or spell a selection of different words. There are three stages available for each of the challenges which get progressively more challenging. Details of these challenges can be found on Tapestry and are available to children from the start of Reception until the end of Year 2.
Remote Learning
In the event we need to use remote learning, parents will be contacted via their Tapestry accounts.
The school’s role:
- As a school, we will provide suitable and varied home learning tasks which consolidate or extend children’s learning.
- We will clearly communicate the expectations of the home learning.
- We will acknowledge and take note of comments written by adults/carers.
- We will provide opportunity for adults to extend or adapt the learning to suit their child’s needs.
The role of the parents and carers;
- As a school, we expect parents and carers to support their child/children in completing home learning tasks. This is in line with the Home/School Agreement signed by parents and carers at the start of their child’s time at school.
- We ask parents and carers to use the specific year group email if any further support or clarification is needed.
- To make home learning an enjoyable and positive experience.
- To provide a quiet and supportive environment in which to complete home learning.
We would like to thank all our parents and carers for supporting your child with their home learning throughout their time at Walmley Infant School.