Homework

 

Children in Key Stage 1 are given formal homework every week, usually on Thursday.  This will include spellings to learn as well as a written English or Maths task.  Completed homework should be returned to school the following Wednesday.

Children in Year 1 and 2 should also be reading every day.  This may be their school reading book or another book from home or the library.  Please remember to write in your child's reading record book when they read at home.

 

Below is the homework timetable for Key Stage 1 which details what children should be working on throughout the week.

Monday: Spellings; Reading

Tuesday: Practical Maths; Reading

Wednesday: English or Maths task in homework book; Reading

Thursday: Handwriting; Reading

Friday: Spellings; Reading

 

Please refer to the list of activities below for suggested practical Maths and English tasks.  You might also like to view our page on useful links.

 

Tips for Parents

 

Learning at home should be enjoyable so limit the time you spend working with your child to short periods of time, ideally no more than 20 minutes at a time. At school we work to ensure that learning is practical and interesting for children and we recommend that any work done at home should be fun!

 Homework:

  • Work through the homework with your child. Talk about what to do and any mistakes your child makes. You could ask them to explain what they are doing and why, especially with maths tasks.
  • If doing handwriting use pencil rather than pens because pencil is what the children use in school. Show your child how to correctly start and form the letters. This can be done in the air or on the surface of a table with their finger.
  • For spelling use the look, cover, write, check method. This is explained on the front, or inside cover, of their homework book.
  • If writing sentences make sure children use finger spaces, full stops and capital letters. They should be encouraged to spell words carefully using their phonics skills to help them.  You might like to ask your child to practice again any words they mis-spellt especially high frequency words. A list of Key Stage 1 high frequency words can be found here.
  • Write calculation questions horizontally 
    e.g. 5 + 3 = 8
          2 x 10 = 20.
  • Parents and carers might find it useful to read the Calculation policies so they know how methods are taught in school    

Calculations Policy - addition  

Calculations Policy - subtraction  

Calculations Policy - multiplication   

Calculations Policy - division

Reading:

  • Talk about the pictures on the page before reading the text.
  • Give your child time to work out unfamiliar words before you tell them.
  • If necessary prompt your child to use the letter sounds in the word.  Use the sounds the letters are making not the letter names.  If you are unsure about this please see our page about Phonics and Reading.
  • Children may use the pictures or sense of the story for clues to help them with unfamiliar words.
  • Discuss what you are reading to ensure your child understands what they have read.  Ask questions about what is happening, why that might be happening, what could happen next, why characters might think or feel certain things and relate the story to their own experiences.
  • Re-read the book again on a different occasion.
  • Ask them to re-tell you the story without looking at the text.
  • Encourage your child to add expression and intonation to their reading, particularly for characters speaking.

Other Activities:

Here are some suggestions for extra little activities you can do to help your child practise their key skills. Some of these can be done without any written work:

  • Rehearse number facts for numbers up to 10; can they remember all the pairs of numbers that add up to make each number up to 10? Can they remember all the taking away facts?
  • Counting forwards and backwards in different steps; try 1s, 2s, 5s or 10s.
  • Recognise odd and even numbers in everyday life, e.g. house numbers.
  • Recognise coins and what they are worth; set up a pretend shop at home!
  • Practise multiplication facts for 2x, 5x and 10x tables by reciting and also applying in context, e.g we’ve got 2 multi-packs with 10 packets of crisps each, how many altogether?
  • Compare objects around the house by how heavy, tall or long they are.
  • Reading words and letters in everyday life, on signs/adverts/labels.
  • Rehearse writing their full name; write their name on things that belong to them. Make sure they use a capital letter.
  • Ask your child to test you on spelling some key words. You can then spell the words wrong for them to correct!
  • Ask your child to help write/read your shopping list.
  • Play simple board games such as snakes and ladders. You could make up your own simple number/word games.
  • Make pictures of things they have done to help with drawing, colouring and cutting skills.
  • Write number/letters in the bubbles in their bath. Investigate which things float in the bath!
  • Baking or cooking provides a rich experience for measuring and following instructions.