QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RELATED TO HOMEWORK

 

What is the point of homework?

·         To help develop the partnership between school and parents

·         To build on and reinforce work done in school, particularly in literacy and numeracy

·         To make the most of what the home can offer in terms of books, other sources of information and adults or older family members, who may have time to help the child

·         To extend work done in school through additional reading

·         To help establish patterns of individual working at home, which will be vital when the child enters secondary school

 

As a parent, what am I expected to do?

·         Provide a reasonably peaceful, suitable place in which your child can do his/her homework. It is best if there are no distractions such as the TV turned on when the child is trying to work

·         Make it clear to your child(ren) that you think homework is important

·         Encourage your child(ren) and praise them when they have completed their homework.

 

What is meant by homework?

·         The main focus of homework will be on literacy and numeracy

·         It is hoped that all children will either read to their parents, or listen to their parents reading to them each day

·         Science and other subjects will be added as children move through from Year Three to Year Six

Other types of homework which may be set from time to time

·         Finding out information

·         Reading in preparation for lessons

·         Preparing oral presentations

·         Learning, including spellings, number bonds and multiplication tables

·         Finishing off work started in school

 

How often will my child be set homework?

·         Homework will be set three times a week, which will include an English task, a Mathematics task and one other

 

How long will my child have to complete the homework?

·         Homework will not need to be completed overnight, but normally within two or three school days or over a period of a weekend plus one school day.

·         It is very helpful if the child at least looks at his/her homework, perhaps with a parent, on the day it has been set. Then if there are any problems, the child can refer back to the teacher concerned for extra help before the homework has to be handed in.

 

How long should my child spend on the homework?

·         Years Three and Four will be set work which should be completed within thirty minutes

·         Years Five and Six will be set work which should be completed within forty to forty five minutes

 

 

What should I do if my child has not completed the homework with the time set out above?

·         Give your child a few extra minutes to complete the task, especially if he/she has not been concentrating all the time

·         Do not let the child work for very much longer, but write a note, either on the child's work, or on a separate piece of paper, to explain to the teacher concerned what has happened.

 

What should I do if my child is having difficulty with the homework?

·         First of all try to make sure that your child understands what he/she is expected to do

·         If your child is not clear about the task which has been set, ask him/her to speak to his/her teacher for further explanation. This may mean that the work will have to be completed at a later date

·         It is important that teachers know when a child has had great difficulty with a particular homework task. Please avoid the temptation to do your child's homework for them. If you have had to give a lot of help, please write a note, either on the child's work, or on a separate piece of paper, to explain to the teacher concerned what has happened

 

How will I know what homework my child has been set?

·         We will be working towards setting homework on a regular schedule and will inform parents when these arrangements are in place. Years Five and Six will have homework diaries

 

Who should I speak to if I have concerns about my child and homework?

·         In the first instance please speak to the teacher who has set the work.  If difficulties persist then please inform the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher

 

I have heard that all parents are expected to spend 20 minutes a day on reading activities with each of their children read, is this true?

·         Yes, the government recommendations state that parents should be involved with their child(ren) on reading activities for twenty minutes per day in addition to the work mentioned above.

 

I am a very busy person and I cannot find the time to hear my child read every day, what should I do?

·         At Locks Heath Junior School we realise that for some parents it will be very difficult, or even impossible, to spend twenty minutes a day on reading activities with their child(ren). However, any support you can give your child(ren) in this connection will be most beneficial, even if is only five minutes a day or only at a week end.

 

How should I go about helping my child with reading at home?

·         We will be sending out separate guidance to parents on how to support their child's reading at home.

 

 

K. Parfoot

Headteacher

November 2012