At Holly Park we believe that homework helps the children and parents understand that learning is a life skill that does not just happen in the classroom. We nurture a belief that learning is a continuous process which should be happening outside as well as in school. We encourage parents to take an active role in their child’s learning. Homework should enhance and reinforce the child’s experience of the curriculum, and should encourage the children to share their learning with their family.
Learning and Education is a partnership between home and school and there are certain areas such as reading, spellings and multiplication tables which parents can really support their children with. Whilst we teach multiplication and spelling at school and we do not expect children to do all the learning of spellings, multiplication etc at home – those who practice at home and are supported at home tend to be more confident with these skills
At Holly Park, homework is set weekly. Work will build on and consolidate class work, allowing parents a chance to help support their child’s learning.
Homework will be acknowledged by the staff each week or be marked together in class.
We expect that children will read at home regularly. In KS2 children read from our Reading Challenge and complete a reading log.
In Reception Key words will be sent home to learn with their Bug club book.
We encourage parents to support their child’s learning by supporting any activities set for home learning as set out below:
Reception children take home books to read and key words. They also need to access Bug Club online books
Year 1
Reading: Children take home a free choice book from the book corner and will also be allocated an electronic Bug Club book.
Phonics: The children will be given a weekly phonics activity to do on paper. In addition, they will also take home weekly phonics words to practice (both real and Alien).
Any phonics homework will brought back to school and kept in a folder.
There is a national Phonics Check which the children should be working towards.
Year 2
Reading: Children take home a free choice book from the book corner and will also be allocated an electronic Bug Club book.
Spelling: The children will be given a weekly spelling activity to do based on learning the Year 2 common exception words.
Grammar: One half term the children will do work based on developing fluency with Y2 grammar.
Maths: The next half term children will be given a maths activity based on fluency with number e.g number bonds, partitioning, times tables etc
Homework will be done on paper. Any homework will brought back to school and kept in a folder.
Year 3
Reading: Children should read for 30 minutes every day from our Reading Challenge. This is best done supported by an adult. Adults should discuss the text with their child. This helps comprehension skills.
Spelling: Children take home spellings every half term. These are a mixture of common words, national curriculum words, non-nonsense spelling pattern words and topic words. There is a half termly spelling test. Children should practice spellings every week at home supported by parents. Spelling is part of the Holly Park homework provision.
Times tables: Children will be given a weekly times table homework. This will be set on Times Tables Rockstars.
In addition children are also encouraged to practice times tables each half term for a half termly tables test. Parents will be informed about which times tables should be practiced each half term. Times tables is an area where parents can really help to practice and reinforce quick recall. Children should practice times tables every week at home supported by parents. Practising times tables at home is part of the Holly Park homework provision.
There is a national Times tables Check in Y4 which the children should be working towards.
Year 4
Reading: Children should read for 30 minutes every day from our Reading Challenge. This is best done supported by an adult. Adults should discuss the text with their child. This helps comprehension skills.
Spelling: Children take home spellings every half term. These are a mixture of common words, national curriculum words, non-nonsense spelling pattern words and topic words. There is a half termly spelling test. Children should practice spellings every week at home supported by parents. Spelling is part of the Holly Park homework provision.
Times tables: Children will be given a weekly times table homework. This will be set on Times Tables Rockstars.
In addition, children are also encouraged to practice times tables each half term for a half termly tables test. Parents will be informed about which times tables should be practiced each half term. Times tables is an area where parents can really help to practice and reinforce quick recall. Children should practice times tables every week at home supported by parents. Practising times tables at home is part of the Holly Park homework provision.
There is a national Times tables Check in Y4 which the children should be working towards.
Year 5
Reading: Children should read for 30 minutes every day from our Reading Challenge. This is best done supported by an adult. Adults should discuss the text with their child. This helps comprehension skills.
Spelling: Children take home spellings every half term. These are a mixture of common words, national curriculum words, non-nonsense spelling pattern words and topic words. There is a half termly spelling test. Children should practice spellings every week at home supported by parents. Spelling is part of the Holly Park homework provision.
Maths: Children will be given a weekly maths homework. The maths will reinforce maths that has already been taught in class.
Grammar: One week the children will do work based on developing fluency with Y5 grammar and consolidation of grammar taught in previous years.
Reading Comprehension: One week the children will be given a short reading comprehension to do.
Children will have a book to record their answers in.
Homework will be marked in class together and teachers will pick up teaching points and address misconceptions at the time. Late homework will therefore not be marked.
There are National tests in Y6 which the children should be working towards. The Upper KS2 homework is designed to support preparation for the national tests and also as part of the preparation for the transition to Key Stage 3 and secondary school.
Year 6
Reading: Children should read for 30 minutes every day from our Reading Challenge. This is best done supported by an adult. Adults should discuss the text with their child. This helps comprehension skills.
Spelling: Children take home spellings every half term. These are a mixture of common words, national curriculum words, non-nonsense spelling pattern words and topic words. There is a half termly spelling test. Children should practice spellings every week at home supported by parents. Spelling is part of the Holly Park homework provision.
Maths: Children will be given a weekly maths homework. The maths will reinforce maths that has already been taught in class.
Grammar: One week the children will do work based on developing fluency and consolidation of all grammar taught in KS2.
Reading Comprehension: One week the children will be given a short reading comprehension to do.
Children will have a book to record their answers in.
Homework will be marked in class together and teachers will pick up teaching points and address misconceptions at the time. Late homework will therefore not be marked.
There are National tests in Y6 which the children should be working towards. The Upper KS2 homework is designed to support preparation for the national tests and also as part of the preparation for the transition to Key Stage 3 and secondary school.
Homework will be set each week using Google Classroom so that parents can see clearly what the weekly homework tasks are. The homework will be handed back in on paper.
The amount and frequency of homework increases as children progress through the school.
Staff, pupils and parents were consulted when reviewing our homework policy. The homework set in each year group is designed to have the greatest impact and is intended to support children to meet national expectations at each stage.
It is the responsibility of children in KS2 to do their homework and to take ownership over doing it each week. We want children to become independent and increasingly ready for the homework expectations at secondary school.
Children at Holly Park will be rewarded each half term for doing their homework. Children in KS1 and Year 3 will receive house points for doing their homework.
At the end of each half term children who have done the majority of their homework that needs to be handed in each week will receive Golden Time. Golden Time will be done in year groups.
Golden Time for homework will be 15 minutes and will be extra playtime, Amazon Climber, ball area.
Children who have not done the vast majority of homework that needs to be handed in will not participate in Golden Time.
Our Designated Teacher for disadvantaged children will monitor homework of Pupil Premium children and will liaise with parents to support as necessary.