WHAT IS ‘HOME LEARNING’?

"Home Learning is any activity which pupils are involved in outside the normal school day that contributes to their learning, either on their own or with others."
DFE, Raising Standards

At Longfield Primary School we believe that there are clear benefits for children who spend regular periods of time on different learning activities outside of school. We see home learning as an important way of not only establishing a successful dialogue between teachers and parents, but also involving parents in the education of their child. Families are in a unique position to provide some very important opportunities for their children that perhaps a school is unable to provide.

Longfield teachers will normally set home learning tasks once a week, over and above the usual reading tasks. However, home learning activities do not have to be prescribed by the teacher and may include: reading, walking the dog, attending a club, playing a board game, visiting a museum, going swimming -  all of which are invaluable developmental activities. Children also need time after school to play, socialise and engage in child type activities and out-of-school clubs.

Home learning tasks should not be onerous nor should they cause conflict at home. Too often, home learning can become associated with oppression, tension, misery and excuses. Some parents who get home from their own stressful days may be entirely unable to enjoy their children’s company because of the need for dreary, repetitive, joyless tasks to be completed.

At Longfield Primary School, we would rather home learning activities be challenging, interesting and enjoyable.

HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?

To be effective, home learning needs to be part of a wider partnership between parents and school.

It is a fact that children develop their skills, interests and talents when parents encourage them to make maximum use of the experiences and opportunities that are available outside of school.

• Listen to your child read on a daily basis.
• Home learning is a learning tool, so go out and about together.
• Learn together! When appropriate, extend the home learning tasks by using appropriate websites or library resources.
• Help your child find a suitable place to engage in the home learning tasks Make sure your child doesn’t spend too long on a home learning task.
• Use your child’s Home Log/book or Reading Diary as a method of communicating with the class teacher.
• Help your child and show support, but do not confuse your child by showing them methods that are not being used in school.
• Help your child to organise his or her time so that deadlines can be met even in the face of a busy week.
• Try to ensure suitably quiet working conditions at home, with suitable equipment and space to work.
• Take a positive and active interest in your child’s homework rather than merely insisting that it is done as this can lead to conflict.
• Let us know if there are any problems with homework so that the class teacher can assist.

Breakfast gives children the energy to learn!

       Home School Agreement

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