Homework

At St Mary Cray Primary Academy we feel it is important for children to be set engaging homework that gives pupils the opportunity to practice and consolidate the learning that has taken place at school (across a range of subjects).

Enjoy sharing your children’s learning with them - every little helps.

Homework is uploaded on Google Classroom and pupils have a half-term to complete all tasks.

Homework through the School

In Reception, children read and practise sounds and words for homework.
For children higher up the school the main purpose of homework is to develop a partnership with parents and actively involve you in your child’s learning. We endeavour to make homework as fun as possible, so a range of open ended practical and written activities are provided rather than worksheets.

Parents are encouraged to:

Provide a peaceful place for doing homework
Make it clear that homework helps children to make progress
Expect deadlines to be met
Give praise for completion of homework
Ensure homework is done over several weeks rather than in one go. This ultimately improves enjoyment and ensures children sustain levels of engagement across the term.

Times Tables

Pupils are required to know all 12 times tables. Pupils are encouraged to practise these number facts as part of their homework by logging into Times Tables Rock Stars.

Reading

Throughout the day children will read for a variety of purposes. They will be taught specific reading skills with the teacher and the teacher will also read a variety of quality stories to the children. To support this, we recommend that all children read for at least 15 minutes a day before or after school. School or home books are suitable. Please sign your child’s Reading Record book each time they read.

Reading records are checked daily and Dojos are given as awards and incentives.

Please ensure that you discuss what has been read with your child by asking a range of comprehension questions. See the link to 'Reading Vipers', attached at the bottom of this page. This document will give you invaluable information about the kind of comprehension questions that you should be asking your child whilst reading.

English/Science/Foundation

A learning menu will be sent home at the beginning of each term that provides a range of activities based on our English objectives and wider topic learning. Children are asked to choose on activity to complete each week. Activities are not necessary book based and include art activities, design technology, creating music and leading research. Please see our most recent Learning Menu below.