DeansfieldPrimary School

Dairsie Road, Eltham, London, SE9 1XP

Tel: 020 8850 1218 Fax: 020 8294 2030

Email:

Website:

Headteacher: Mr J Camp BA (Hons), MA

Deputy Headteacher:Ms K Leeson BA (Hons)

10th December 2008

Dear Parents

HOMEWORK POLICY

I attach for your information a copy of Deansfield’s Homework Policy which has in part been revised as a result of the feedback we received from the recent Parents Questionnaire.

I hope you will agree that the Policy is very clear and conducive to the children’s educational well being.

If you have any comments to make on the policy, there is a tear off slip on the last page for your use. Please return any slips to the school reception.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely

Mr J Camp

Headteacher

DeansfieldPrimary School

Homework Policy

The 7 core principles that underpin learning at Deansfield are that it is:

Fun CreativeMeaningfulMotivating

Challenging TransferableDynamic

At Deansfield school we recognize dyslexia as a specific learning difference and place it on the continuum of learning styles and preferences. We are committed to ensure that if children do not learn the way we teach, we will teach the way they learn, actively developing our experiences and the body of research available.

We expect all the children to work hard throughout the school day and therefore their time outside school should be for rest and relaxation. Going to Brownies, Beavers, swimming, dance and football clubs are very valuable activities. Equally valuable is family time spent at home, playing, talking, and seeing friends.

We also believe that a carefully balanced homework programme is beneficial for the children for the following reasons:

To give parents opportunities to be directly involved in their child’s learning

To reinforce the partnership between home and school

To consolidate skills learnt in school and give opportunities to extend learning

Homework is not compulsory but children are strongly encouraged to complete it. It is most effective and productive when done in a supportive, secure environment when time is set aside. We have found that children who are helped with their homework, particularly their reading, make much better progress. At Deansfield, children are praised for doing their homework, they are not punished for not doing their homework: the class teacher will follow up with the parents those children who are not completing homework tasks/bringing their home contact books back regularly.

The purpose and focus of the homework will develop as the children progress through the school.

The homework set in each year group will be reviewed at the beginning of each school year to make sure it continues to be relevant to the children’s learning needs.

Guidelines:

Foundation/Key Stage 1:

Regular reading practice is vital to develop early reading skills.

Reception

We encourage parents to read their books and / or a story regularly with their child

A comments book is provided to indicate when they have read with a child and make a comment if relevant

Sounds and word book to practise phonics provided.

Years 1 2

Children should continue their daily reading practice, (for at least 10 minutes), which will include a range of books from the classroom. Once a week this will be a guided (colour coded) reading book that the child has read in a group with their teacher. This may be accompanied by activities to develop children’s level of understanding of the text. Comments should be written by the adult in the contact book.

Children will have letter sounds/spellings to practise and learn. These will be linked to the National Letters and Sounds Phonic Programme

Children should continue to practise counting and number skills through games. There may bemaths investigations to do.

Children may be asked to find out simple information/collect items linked to topic work.

Key Stage 2:

As the children become fluent, independent readers they need to extend the range of their reading material and develop their own critical views.

Years 3 4

The most important thing is that children should read independently/or to an adult for 15 minutes every day. Parents should continue to make comments in the contact book for children not yet reading fluently. Independent readers should write their own comments following the class teacher’s guidelines. The teacher will “reply” to the child at least once a week.

Reading books taken home may include the weekly guided reader as well as a range of other books. There may be specific skills to practise at home.

Children may have a Maths problem/investigation, which is linked to their class work

Children should learn their multiplication tables, which they will practise in school.

Children may be asked to carry out some research, finding out information, connected with their topic.

Years 5 & 6

Children should read regularly and continue to write comments in their journal.

Children will be encouraged to write once a week in the style of a particular genre e.g. review, recount, and report. These will be handed in once a week and comments written back by the teacher.

Other Literacy related homework may include practising spelling rules and handwriting set once a week. In Year 6 there may be reading comprehension homework.

Children may have a Maths problem/investigation once a week, which is linked to their class work. They may still need to practice their multiplication tables

Children will be asked to research a topic or do follow-up work where relevant

There will be revision for Year 6 SAT’s as the year progresses and parents will be informed of what will be expected.

This policy will be reviewed annually.

------

Please complete and return to the School Office

Child’s Name ______Class______

I have read the Homework Policy.

*I have no comments to make

*I would like to make the following comments

______

Signed ______Date ______

Homework Policy/jp

JC/jp Homework Policy Revised December 2008