Homework is really important in supporting work done in school by:

• developing an effective partnership between the school, parents and carers in pursuing the aims of the school;
• 
  consolidating and reinforcing skills and understanding, particularly, in Literacy and Numeracy;
• 
  encouraging pupils as they get older to develop the confidence and self-discipline needed to study on their own.

We have adopted the government¡¦s recommended time allocation for homework which is shown in the table below.

Year Recommended Time Tasks

Years 1 & 2 1 hour per week Reading
Spelling
Other literacy work
Other numeracy work

Years 3 & 4 1.5 hours per week Reading, Literacy and numeracy as for Years 1 & 2 with occasional assignments in other subjects

Years 5 & 6 2.5 hours per week Reading
Regular weekly schedule with continued emphasis on literacy and numeracy but also ranging widely over the curriculum

The main focus of homework is Literacy and Numeracy.  Your involvement in joint activities with your children, which can be very brief, is very valuable in supporting their learning.

Regular reading is vital.  For children in Key Stage 1, homework should very largely consist of regular reading with parents and carers, looking at books together.  Reading practice and listening to others read then continues to be essential right through primary school. Fluent readers should read on their own for at least 10 to 20 minutes a day.
Other literacy related homework will include learning spellings.  In Numeracy, it will include number games and tasks and more formal exercises for older children, sometimes needing your involvement.

In addition to these regular activities, older children may be given some homework of other kinds which might include:

• finding out information;
• 
  reading in preparation for lessons;
• 
  preparing oral presentations;
• 
  more traditional written assignments.

Obviously, we need your support if homework is to be of maximum benefit to your children. Could I ask you to support your children by:

• providing a reasonably peaceful, suitable place in which they can do their homework alone or, more often for younger children, together with an adult;
• 
  making it clear to them that you value homework;
• 
  encouraging your children and praising them when they have completed homework.