Home learning is an extremely important aspect of a child’s education, and can add much to their development. Indeed home learning is an important part of the partnership between teachers and parents. One of the aims of our teaching is for children to develop as independent learners, and we believe that home learning is a key method in which children can acquire the skill of independent learning. Teachers and governors agreed that it was important to prioritise ‘high impact’ learning experiences that develop age appropriate skills whilst allowing children and families to have sufficient time to talk and do things together. It was felt that school must listen to our children who have told us that too much work at home prevents them from enjoying other valuable experiences that are part of childhood. We also acknowledge the important role of play and free time in a child’s growth and development. While home learning is important, it should not prevent children from taking part in the various out-of-school activities that are an important part in the lives of our pupils. We also need to ensure that home learning activities focus on the core learning that needs embedding by the end of each academic year, such as reading, spelling and multiplication/division facts.  

The role of parents in Home Learning

Parents have a vital role to play in their child’s education, and home learning is an important part of this process. We ask parents to support children in developing a love of learning, discovering new interests and embedding the key skills needed by the end of each year in school to help their child’s readiness for the move up through school. We ask that parents support their children in the following ways:

1. READ, READ, READ and READ! – School believes that it is vital that children read every day and are supported to develop a love of reading as it is a key element to academic success. We ask that parents support their children in reading daily and record their reading material in school diaries regularly. School will continue to ensure that reading remains high profile and will set a number of reading challenges during each academic year in which we expect all children to take part, with their families support.  Each child will have a school reading book and a library book however; all reading materials are valued and enhance a love of literature. Therefore, we encourage children to have a varied diet of reading that extends beyond school issued books.

Examples of other reading materials that children should enjoy:

• Books linked to children’s hobbies
• Favourite stories and books shared by adults and older siblings
• Stories from around the world, different cultures, faiths and world history
• Comics
• First News (Children’s newspaper)
• Recipe books

1. Learn and over learn the multiplication facts - Practice regularly at home so that they can be recalled at speed and used to solve problems.
2. Talk to your children - Build in time to talk with children each day, to model listening skills, to build vocabulary and language skills.

Other Home Learning opportunities:

• Have fun and new experiences with your children (cooking, clubs, museums, talking about interests and school learning, listening)