Homework Policy
A03: HOMEWORK POLICY
Nil sine labore – We achieve nothing without effort
School
Motto
1.
Rationale:
Homework is important at all stages of a child’s education and when used
properly, it extends the challenge open to the pupil and ensures that teaching
time is used to maximise the effect. Homework makes a significant contribution
to the development of independent learning.
2.
Aims:
Through this policy we aim to:
- ensure
that parents are clear about what their child is expected to do
- ensure
consistency of approach throughout the schools
- use
homework as a tool to help continue to raise standards of attainment
- improve
the quality of the learning experience offered to pupils and to extend it
beyond the classroom environment
- provide
opportunities for parents, children and the school to work together in
partnership in relation to our pupil’s learning
- reinforce
work covered in class by providing further opportunities for individual
learning
- practise
and consolidate basic skills and knowledge, especially in Numeracy and
Literacy
- encourage
children to develop the responsibility, confidence and self-discipline
needed to study independently
- enable
children to transfer skills cross-curricular
3. The Nature of Homework
Homework can be set in different ways, and with
different expectations and outcomes:
- The
nature and type of homework should change throughout a pupil’s school
career
- The
nature and type of homework should consolidate classroom learning
- The
amount and frequency of homework should increase as a pupil gets older,
but should always be appropriate to the ability of the individual child
- Homework
should not cause undue stress on the pupil, the parents or the teacher
- Homework
must be set regularly from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 6
4.
Recommended Time Allocation
Homework should never be too time consuming, nor should it create stress
for pupils and their families. If parents have any concerns, they should not
hesitate to contact the school. Normally, more than one day will be allowed for
the completion of a homework task, except
where daily practice is to be required and needs to be encouraged, e.g.
reading, spelling and times tables.
In line with the National
Curriculum of England objectives, the following time allocations are
recommended for homework activities:
- Early Years Foundation Stage: 1 hour per week
- Years 1 and 2: 1 – 1.5 hours per week
- Years 3 and 4: 1.5 – 2.5 hours per week
- Years 5 and 6: 30 – 60 minutes per day
- Years 7 and
9: 60 minutes per
day
- Years 10 to
11: At
least 60 minutes per day but could be more.
5.
Homework Tasks for EYFS and Primary
Listed below, for each Phase, are examples of tasks and activities that
might be given as homework. Please note that this list is by no means
exhaustive and open to constant change. Homework activities may change to meet
the needs of the pupils and will be relevant to the class programme.
All homework tasks and activities will have a clear purpose and assist
pupils in the process of their academic development. The list below is
therefore not exhaustive:
Phase 1 – Foundation Stage ·
Practise letter sounds according to the Edison
Global Academy ’s Jolly Phonics plan ·
Reading books and key words ·
Counting up and down stairs, number of jumps,
number of tins etc. ·
Reciting nursery and counting rhymes. ·
Exercises aimed at the identification of shapes
and/or colours ·
Letter and/or number tracing to enhance pencil
control and letter and/or number recognition ·
Any exercises that are set to train gross and/or
fine motor skills |
Phase 1 – Year 1 and Year 2 ·
Reading books and key words ·
Learning spellings ·
Learning number facts ·
Literacy activities and small, age-adequate and
curriculum-relevant research projects are encouraged ·
Numeracy activities ·
Working out real life problems (i.e. house
numbers, shapes in the house, etc.)
|
Phase 2 – Year 3 and Year 4 ·
Reading ·
Spellings ·
Literacy activities, including independent writing activities ·
Numeracy activities, including times tables ·
Handwriting practise ·
Small, age-adequate and curriculum-relevant
independent research projects and presentations ·
Self-assessment of own learning |
Phase 2 – Year 5 and Year 6
|
6. Homework tasks for Secondary Stage
Effective
homework can play a significant role in improving learning and raising
achievement. Not only does homework reinforce and support classroom learning,
it also helps develop the independence and self-discipline necessary for
lifelong success. We hope that homework will develop the skills of independent
learning, and attitudes necessary for life-long learning.
In
general, when homework is set, the emphasis will be on good quality tasks. The
intrinsic value of homework activities is more important than the time spent on
them. In any case, the precise amount of time that may need to be devoted to
activities will vary from student to student. Homework should be appropriate to
each individual’s ability and all students should be able to access work set.
How
much homework will be set and when will it be due in?
Years 7
to 9 can expect up to one hour of homework per night during the week. They
should record any homework set in their homework diary, as well as the deadline
for a particular piece. Usually, students will NOT be asked to complete
homework for the next day. This will support the students as they develop the
important skill of planning their use of time to include their clubs and other
activities and leaving enough time to ask their teacher for help with their
homework if they need it. Therefore, homework tasks will be given with a
minimum of 48 hours to complete.
7. How can parents help?
Showing care and taking interest is perhaps the
greatest help parents can give. Parents should check the student’s diary
/digital messages daily. The homework diary/digital message is an important
means of communication between the school and parents. Parents can also broaden
their child’s education through planned visits to places of geographical,
historical, scientific or cultural significance and interest, or by looking out
for useful television programmes, newspaper articles or websites such as Al
Jazeera, in both English and Arabic.
8.
Role of the Class Teacher
- to
inform parents in writing at the beginning of each term, outlining the
homework tasks and learning targets set for children, and if necessary
give guidance of how they might assist their child.
- to
set up regular homework in an easily followed routine
- to
ensure homework is set consistently
- to
ensure homework is purposeful and links directly to the curriculum being
taught
- to
mark homework appropriately regularly, and give individual feedback to
pupils as necessary.
- to
reward and praise children who regularly and satisfactorily complete set
homework tasks
Note: Whilst Edison Global Academy is legally responsible to set homework on a
regular basis, the school cannot enforce the completion of homework. However,
pupils who do not complete their homework or who have not spent the recommended
time attempting to complete their homework, will be provided time in school,
after regular hours, to finish it with the help of staff, so that it can be
ensured that the pupil understands and is confident regarding the homework
content.
Parents
will be notified by letter/digital message if their child regularly fails to
submit homework or does not spend the recommended time trying to complete their
homework.
9.
Role of the School Principal:
- to
check compliance of the Homework Policy
- to
meet and discuss with staff how far the policy is being successfully
implemented
- to
meet and talk with parents when appropriate
- to
report to the Stakeholders on the success of the Homework Policy and
suggest changes if necessary
10.
Role of Parents/Caregivers:
- to
support the school by ensuring that their child completes or at least
attempts the homework independently
- to
provide a suitable, quiet place for their child to carry out their
homework
- to
become actively involved and support their child with homework activities
·
At Edison
Global Academy , we are very keen for parents to support their children with
set homework tasks. We believe that children are likely to get more out of an
activity if parents get involved and assist, as long as it is apparent to the
teacher that the homework is the child’s own work, as we need to see what
children can do on their own. It is particularly important for children to
become independent in and responsible for their learning. If a parent is unsure
what their role should be, they are encouraged to seek advice from their
child’s teacher.
11.
General:
Marking of homework: staff should mark homework that is returned by
pupils. This will give the process of setting and completing homework a higher
profile and status and underpin the message that homework is an important and
valued aspect of school life. Marking of homework is a way of keeping track of
who has completed their homework, and a way of giving feedback and setting
targets.
- Illness: if children are absent due to illness, we
will assume that the child was unable to complete any homework tasks set
- Long
term absence: if a child is
absent for a length of time (i.e. hospitalisation), the teacher will
contact the parent to determine what should be done. In such
circumstances, the Principal needs to be consulted. The school should
resume the responsibility of ensuring that the parents/child are given
daily work and any homework that is covered during the time of absence.
- Students
taking holidays during term time:
it is not possible to give homework in such cases. The parents will be
informed that the school cannot be responsible for ensuring the child has
school-work over this period. This is solely the responsibility of the
parents.
Admissions
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