Home Learning

Intent

At Rowde, we recognise the advantages of developing home learning habits, and believe that children benefit from regular home learning, because:

- Children who complete home learning regularly are far more likely to achieve the expected standard in their learning.
- Good home learning habits help to reduce the impact of school closures/lock down.
- Home learning encourages independent working/problem-solving/research and affords an opportunity to reinforce learning from class.
- Home learning can be tailored to individual needs and learning gaps.
- Home learning enables parents to become more involved in their child’s education and children do better when parents take an interest in their child’s learning .
- Home learning supports the development of Year-7 readiness.

Below are some of our beliefs about home learning:

- Home learning should be completed independently by the child, with some help and guidance when necessary from parents.
- There should be consistency across classes, and the school, in the expectations of homework. 
- Home learning should be manageable, accessible and consistent with the acknowledgement that children work extremely hard during the school day.
- Home learning should increase in quantity, up to Year 6.
- Home learning should focus predominantly on the basic skills of the year group objectives within the National Curriculum as this is where it can have most impact.
- Home learning should be reviewed if a child is not benefiting from the work at home, or it is having a negative impact on a child’s attitude towards learning.
- Home learning should be acknowledged by the class teacher.
- Pupils should be rewarded for completing Home learning to a high standard.

Our Approach

We feel that the most beneficial support parents can provide is through reinforcing the basic requirements within each year group in the core subjects. By doing this, we are reducing the chance of parents having to ‘teach’ concepts to their children. Some of the homework set can be completed independently for the pupils, such as Professor Assessor. This will hopefully reduce the need for parents to guide children through every element of their Home Learning.

Reading and Maths homework (alongside phonics for our youngest children and the additional punctuation and grammar/writing for our oldest children) is distributed weekly on a Friday via Seesaw. The children's reading logs and journals need to be handed in on Wednesday. From the termly home learning grid, the children need to complete at least one activity and hand this in in the final week of term for feedback and marking.

All children will have access to home learning that is relevant to their current stage of learning. If parents feel the home learning does not cater for their child, or you have been unable to complete homework for a genuine reason, then please speak to the class teacher and adaptations can be made.

It is our expectation that home learning will be completed carefully and returned on time. Teachers will offer opportunities through the week to provide support for children to help them with any Home Learning that is confusing or difficult to complete. Where home learning is frequently missed or not completed, late or of poor quality, the children’s parents or carers will be contacted by the class teacher and it may be that the children will have to complete their home learning in their own time at break or lunch.

Teachers will review all the home learning that is handed in and feedback will be given. This might include a comment, question or an initial. It is important to note that this feedback may be verbal or given in other ways in the classroom, and will not only be written on the piece of work or in the child’s book. Pupils who produce home learning of a high standard may be awarded a house point or proud post, and each class will have three Home Learning Champions for the term.

For more information, and to read about the expectations for each year group, please read our Home Learning Policy and see our 'Reading and Home Learning Spotlight' letter below.

Reading and homework spotlight

Home learning policyIt is important to always bear in mind that reading with your child is the most important element of Home Learning. We hope the documents below support you with this.

Rowde Recommends Reading ListSupporting with Phonics at Home - Little Wandle Parent ResourcesReading at Home Suggestions - Key Stage 1Reading at Home Suggestions - Key Stage 2

Phonics and reading parent workshop slides