Homework Approach at WVPS
Our homework approach focusses on the essentials that make the biggest difference towards helping every child make excellent progress. We want to avoid unnecessary pressure and potential unhappiness that can arise from homework, allowing students to relax and decompress after a busy school day; therefore, our homework will focus on core learning such as reading, phonics, spelling, number facts and times tables.
Managing time is still an important skill and that is why we do like children to prioritise some key elements at home. Homework for children across the school has a focus on reading and key maths knowledge (number facts, times tables and KIRFs) as we believe that these are the foundation for all of their future learning. It will allow them to consolidate their learning at home, develop further, and it gives you an insight into how they are getting on with these key elements. We understand the importance of children resting, playing, socialising, exercising, taking part in extra-curricular clubs and having family time when they are not in school so we want to set a very manageable amount of homework. If we can work together to develop a love of reading and a knowledge of key mathematical facts, our children will have a great platform to build upon with their learning.
To ensure that you know what your child is learning each half-term, you will receive a termly learning sheet (please find them here) that will outline the key learning that your child will do over the course of the half term. This will allow you to have conversations with your child about their learning as we know they don’t always tell you what they have been up to! Our year group blogs can also keep you up-to-date with their current learning each week.
Please see the information below which outlines our approach to homework across the school.
Foundation Stage and KS1 (Years 1 and 2)
The focus for our younger children needs to be on reading. Your child will bring home a book each week that should be read multiple times. Re-reading texts at this stage is an important part of their reading development as it allows them to develop their decoding skills, fluency skills and understanding how to add expression through echo reading. They could focus on a different element each time you read together. Once they have decoded the words, they benefit from hearing you demonstrate adding expression and seeing the difference this makes to a text. Please record any home reading in their reading record. Additionally, they will have a book to share together, taken either from the classrooms or the library - this is a text that we don’t expect the children to read independently, but to share together allowing for opportunities for book talk about the characters, storyline, make predictions etc.
Children in FS and KS1 will also have access to Numbots which is an excellent programme to develop early numeracy skills through counting, subitising, addition and subtraction. We recommend that the children find a little time to access this during the week. Through playing the short games, they will progress and develop rapid recall of their number bonds which will be extremely useful with their future mathematical journey. Children in year two will be introduced to Times Tables Rock Stars at the appropriate time and this will then take the place of Numbots.
Children in FS and KS1 will continue to have KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts) set each half term. These will be sent out to parents in a ping during the first weeks of term, in line with the rest of the school, but they are present in reading records so they are something that can be revisited all half-term when there are a spare 5 minutes!
KS2 (Years 3 - 6)
As the children move into KS2, the focus still needs to be on reading regularly. While the children may be more confident, they now need to further develop their fluency and expression. They still need to read aloud to an adult, as well as be read to by an adult (even in Year 6) as this helps them to understand and develop phrasing and emphasis. Taking turns to read pages is a great way to do this. Take time to talk about what has been read too and make predictions together. Making time to read together helps to develop the love of reading that can excite them. Please record any home reading in their reading record.
We want to set a very manageable amount of homework because we understand the importance of children resting, playing, socialising, exercising, taking part in extra-curricular clubs and having family time when they are not in school. Depending on the age and academic ability of your child, teachers will aim to set a reasonable amount which enables them to access every task and achieve well.
Teachers will also set your child games or challenges on learning websites/apps that the children use in school, such as Spelling Shed and Times Table Rock Stars (TTRS). For KS2, children will be set a specific number of games to complete, over the course of the week, on Spelling Shed and TTRS as outlined below. These are set as a minimum, but children are encouraged to use these games more where possible or to ensure they are carrying out further practice to work on their times tables or spellings. There will also be opportunities for ‘Battles’ on TTRS which usually encourages them to play even more!
| Years 3 and 4 (Weekly) | Years 5 and 6 (Weekly) |
| 5 games on Spelling Shed 5 minutes on TTRS |
10 games on Spelling Shed 10 minutes on TTRS |
If you have a technical issue with the online homework, then you can go to the ‘Help’ tab on the Home Learning section of the school website for advice and an online technical support form.
If you need any help accessing the online platforms, or your child would like to do extra work, then please utilise our school website as we have many fantastic resources in the Learning Resources section.
However, if your question is more pressing, then please contact the school office.
Homework Club
With the busy pace of life, we know that it can sometimes be tricky to complete homework at home. Therefore, the school operates a Homework Club, before school from 8.15am on both Monday and Thursday, every week. It is led by a member of staff in our IT Suite and all KS2 children from the school are welcome to attend. If you are bringing your child to Homework Club, please enter by the front office.
Thank you for supporting us and your child with their homework!
