Home learning
At Bridge Farm Primary, we actively involve pupils in decisions about their learning. From our Pupil Attitudes to Learning Survey, pupils communicated that they feel Home Learning could be improved by making the following changes:
- Increased choice over the direction pupils want to take their Home Learning.
- Greater exposure to project based work and research opportunities.
- Greater focus on the foundation/ creative curriculum areas.
With this in mind, please find attached the important changes to Home Learning. Please Note: EYFS classes will continue their approach to Home Learning and there will be no changes.
Aims of the Approach:
Through the changes we aim to:
- Ensure that parents are clear about what their child is expected to do.
- Ensure consistency of approach throughout the school.
- To use Home Learning as a tool to help continue to raise standards of attainment.
- Improve the quality of the learning experience offered to pupils and to extend it beyond the classroom environment, enabling to follow their own interests.
- Provide opportunities for parents, children and the school to work together in partnership and encourage shared and enjoyable learning experiences.
- Reinforce work covered in class by providing further opportunities for individual learning.
- Encourage children to develop the responsibility, confidence and self-discipline needed to study independently.
- To prepare pupils for the next stages of their education.
Weekly Home Learning Tasks:
Each week, there is an expectation that pupils focus on the fundamentals of reading, spellings and timetables:
- Reading: Daily reading is essential for raising pupil attainment across the curriculum. Pupils will be allocated a book based on their reading ability and within the different Book Bands of the Oxford Reading Tree. Pupils will have a Reading Record that needs to be signed when a pupil has read to an adult at home. Reading records will be collected in each week so that Teachers can check whether pupils are reading regularly and so that intervention can be put in place where this is not happening.
- Spellings: Pupils will have a weekly spelling test (tests will take place on Tuesday each week). A termly spelling sheet containing the spellings will be given at the start of each term. These spellings will also be uploaded to Spelling Shed so that pupils can practise their weekly spellings on this platform.
- X tables: Pupils in Y3 – Y6 have been set up with a Times Table Rock Stars login. Teachers will set challenges for pupils based on the times tables that need consolidation and practise. Daily times table practise to allow speedy recall of tables is essential to unlock the mathematics curriculum within the school.
Term 6 Home Learning Projects:
In the first week of each term, pupils will be set their new Home Learning Project. The project-based approach will ensure that pupils will have chance to complete a number of different types of projects over the course of the year (i.e. Oracy Presentation/ Art, Design and Music projects/ Research projects/ Presentations on significant/ inspirational individuals or groups of individuals/ Environmental Issues/ Written outcomes and extended writing). Teachers will provide pupils with the following information:
- Home Learning Project Handout: this will detail the expectations and aims of the project, as well as what possible outcomes may look like. The handout will be sent electronically via email to parents and they will also be on the website.
- Video Briefing: Teachers in each year group have provided a ‘how to’ video, which will guide pupils through completion of the project. Links to the videos will be sent via email and will be available on the school YouTube Channel – a link has been added below.
Completing the Project/Teacher Check-Ins:
Once the project has been set, pupils will have all term to work towards the outcomes. We encourage pupils to consider the approach that best fits how they learn. The emphasis is that pupils will decide how they want to complete the project and the direction that they want to take their learning. Teachers will regularly check-in with pupils across the term to see how the project is going and whether any help and support is needed. It is important that pupils take control of their learning and communicate if they need anything. Similarly, if parents require any assistance with the project, please ensure that you contact Class Teachers well in advance of the hand-in deadline.
Handing the Project In:
The projects will be handed in on the penultimate week of term in whatever form they take. This will allow opportunity for Class Teachers to celebrate the learning pupils have undertaken.
How will the Home Learning Projects be celebrated?
Bridge Farm Primary values the effort that pupils make with their Home Learning. It is important that pupil effort is recognised and acknowledged. Class Teachers will share pupil projects with the class and celebrate, where appropriate, the work via the school website.
The change in approach aims to improve outcomes for children and also alleviate pressure on parents with Home Learning. Teacher check-ins will continue to ensure children are on track to complete tasks to the best of their ability. We do appreciate your support in ensuring Home Learning is consistently handed in and meets the expectations set by the teacher.
If you have any comments or wish further clarification, please do not hesitate in discussing this matter with the class teacher.
