Homework is an integral part of learning and teaching.  It provides the opportunity for the development of self reliance, self discipline, self confidence and participation in taking responsibility for learning by your child.  It also strengthens the link between home and school in providing an opportunity for parents and carers to share in the learning process.  Homework can take many forms and will reflect the age, stage and area of learning currently being undertaken by your child.  It will be issued on a regular basis and will be varied, meaningful and interesting.

St James’ Primary School has a homework policy based on Renfrewshire Council’s policy and guidance.  You can request a copy of this policy from the school office.

In St James’ Primary School, pupils receive a weekly organiser or home/school notebook which should be signed by a parent at the end of each week.  If a child experiences difficulty with homework a note in the organiser would alert the teacher to the problem.  The organiser is checked by the teacher on a weekly basis.  Pupils will be given a weekly homework programme/timetable.  Homework tasks are generally given Monday to Thursday only.

Amount of Homework

The time taken for homework will generally increase from 10 minutes in P1 to approximately 30 minutes in P7, on average per night.  This includes the valuable time spent on oral or ‘learning’ activities.

Homework Hints

General advice includes:

Help your child to succeed by providing a quiet place to work

Try to remember to sign markers and diaries etc

Encourage both reading aloud and silently at home (from P1 to P7)

Remember to ask your child lots of questions as part of their reading

Help your child to learn number facts and times tables regularly

Remember that both written and unwritten homework is valuable

Ensure that homework is regularly completed and handed in on time

If homework causes problems do not hesitate to let us know