Parents, carers and other family members can and do make a real difference to children’s education. When parents and schools work together, children do better. Children learn a great deal at school and you can add to that learning by supporting them at home. For example, showing an interest in their homework and talking to them about it really helps them to learn.’

(Making the Difference: Homework)

 

In St Bartholomew’s Primary School, we aim to help pupils:

• develop a sense of responsibility for their own learning
• utilise opportunities for additional learning time
• improve their self-confidence and motivation
• develop effective study skills
• manage their time effectively

 

Homework tasks set by the school support parents and carers in demonstrating to their child that they have a keen interest in their learning and progress. The activities also provide valuable opportunities for parents and carers to work alongside their child on tasks and activities which reinforce the learning they do in school; this provides parents with a valuable insight into their child’s on-going progress.

Foundational to A Curriculum for Excellence is the necessity for learning experiences to encourage children to be successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. With this in mind, St Bartholomew’s Primary School sees the home, the community, the environment and the media as valuable contexts for learning to be extended and enriched.

A range of homework activities are set in St Bartholomew’s across various areas of the curriculum and include:

• reinforcement of class work
• research topics and investigations
• preparation for class work
• activities relating to Personal & Social Development
• preparation for presentations
• researching current affairs

Supporting your child with their homework

• If possible, provide your child with a quiet place to work.
• Treat your child’s homework as his or her responsibility.
• Take an interest; help your child but do not do the work for them.

Help your child to find solutions to any problem, but only to get your child back on track again. If your child is really struggling, it is better to refer the problem back to the teacher the following day.

• Go over work when it is completed, showing interest and support.
• Get used to the local resources you and your child can use such as joining the local library.
• Get in touch with the school if there appears to be a problem – do not wait too long.
• Go over the work again after it has been marked, discuss the good points and also any mistakes.