Background

Our homework policy is a response to the data collected from parents, teachers and students on this topic during our 2005 Triennial School Review. The majority of parents and teachers believe that homework is essential in order to keep parents informed of school learning activities and to help students develop time management and study skills to meet their future learning needs. Eighty-four percent of students surveyed indicated that they could easily complete the homework set in time.

This policy clarifies our expectations about homework for our whole school community so that we can support student learning and strengthen partnerships.

Purposes of homework

· To inform parents of learning activities done in class and their child’s progress

· To provide practice of skills and to develop mental recall of facts

· To develop independence in learning, time management and study skills

· To develop reading skills through regular practice

Homework times

The following times are recommended in acknowledgement of the range of other pursuits students may be engage in.

Years 1 to 4 – fifteen minutes

Years 5 and 6 – twenty minutes

Year 7 – thirty minutes

If your child is taking longer to complete tasks, please discuss this with his/her class teacher. The reasons may vary from organizational and resource issues to the level of difficulty and type of task.

Homework is offered on Monday to Thursday so that weekends are free.

Homework tasks

Homework tasks for Years 1 – 3 may include:

• Reading
• Sight words, phonics revision and spelling
• Number facts
• Short revision work sheets

Homework for Years 4 – 7 may include:

• Reading
• Spelling
• Number facts
• Activities that contribute to the completion of class assignments and projects
• Practise for oral presentations

Teachers will consider varying levels of student ability, resources required and the close link to work covered in class and will mark homework either daily or weekly to provide feedback to both students and parents.