Homework in Primary Schools

Primary School Expectations

Each school has different levels of homework. Most schools tend to focus heavily on reading during the week.

You and your child will be encouraged to do homework from Reception - phonics and words to reading at least three times a week, maths, english, spellings with your child.

Showing an interest in your child's work is part of understanding what your child might have done that day. Teachers set homework at the level the child is working at and they will not set homework on something that they have not been taught.

Homework is set on the learning they have done so it reinforces and embeds. If you find your child is struggling, talk to your teacher and ask for advice.

We strongly suggest you pick your moments to do homework, make sure your child is not tired or hungry and in the right frame of mind. If your child prefers to do homework straight after school set a routine or whilst your are cooking or preparing food ask your child if they would like to read to you or complete spellings or maths.

Research shows those children who have that extra support and encouragement at home do well in class.

Some schools set topic specific work which could be termly - this can be an art project, cooking, baking, drawing, writing, making a model this again is helping your child learn in different ways and enhance the learning they have done in class. Using different techniques helps children develop a love for learning and understand learning is not just talk and chalk.

The majority of schools will send home reading, spellings and times tables homework over a week. Homework also helps children through the transition periods of each school year. Over each year the homework expectations might get greater due to the needs of the curriculum expectations.

Teachers are always looking to enhance their pupils learning and use different methods of doing homework maybe using technology websites, reading apps, times tables apps and others might set homework where you are encouraged to do things together as a family.

Some may find homework helps children to keep focused and have clear guidelines. Also it helps them to understand if children have not fully understood the learning and where more focus might be needed.

Teachers have a lot to cover in a day and sometimes they cannot give the one to one support a child might need and sometimes a child might not be feel comfortable in approaching the teacher. Homework and assessments highlight areas where teachers need to put more focus on and look at ways to develop the learning environment if the child is not concentrating.

Homework can bring on another set of battles at home. We all go through them and if it becomes an on-going battle ask for some assistance from your class teacher. If you have older children who can assist ask them to help and advise.

Expectations from each school and from each child is very different, you can take the learning at home at the pace you and your child are comfortable with.