Introduction
At St Mary’s we believe Home Learning (or Homework) is an important part of pupils’ education. Home Learning enables pupils to achieve the following:
- Consolidate and extend learning from school.
- Explore passions and interests further.
- Develop the skill of independent learning in a non-school setting, preparing them for the demands of secondary school and beyond.
Details on the weekly expectations for Home Learning tasks for each year group can be found in our Home Learning Policy
Whilst we hope pupils develop independence in their Home Learning, we understand the important role parents and carers can have in the process and encourage them to be involved. The following guidance was designed during the school’s closure in 2020 for parents but remains a pertinent document for home support: Home Learning Parental Guidance
Home School Agreement
As part of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998, we have a Home-School-Child Agreement which we offer all parents/guardians. The Agreement explains the following:
• The school’s aims and values
• The school’s responsibilities towards its pupils
• The responsibilities of the pupil’s parents
• What the school expects of its pupils.
We produced the Home-School-Child Agreement by drawing together a volunteer group of parents. This group discussed the effectiveness of St Mary’s home-school links and produced a draft of the Agreement which the teaching staff developed further and the Governing Body then approved.
Each child will receive a copy of the Agreement. Please would you read it and sign the parents’ section, returning the signed Agreement to your child’s class teacher. The Headteacher, Mrs Abrahams, will then sign on behalf of the school and return the Agreement to you to keep.
You will see that on the back page of the Agreement there is a section for each child to sign. This only need be done if you think your child is able to understand the Agreement and what is expected of him or her. However, most of our pupils would be able to do so and would enjoy playing their part by signing their names, especially if you can spend a few minutes discussing the document together first. If you have more than one child in school, could they all sign the same copy so that we have just one document per family please.
See our Home School Agreement on our policies page
Online Learning Platforms
In Reception, Tapestry is the online learning platform used for children to upload evidence of their work.
In Years 1-6, Google Classroom is the online platform used. Homework is set my teachers, submitted by pupils and assessed by teachers all using Google Classroom. (There are various other tasks, activities and projects which may be completed via homework books or on paper when required from time to time.) The platform provides a paper-free approach to Home Learning but also has a range of media and functionality that supports learning. Any families who do not have sufficient technology at home can have paper copies of work. The following video supports those new to Google Classroom in logging on at home: Google Classroom Logging On Support
Remote Learning
If a pupil is well and unable to attend school for a reason such as needing to isolate or school’s closure due to a pandemic, for example, remote learning will be provided.
What is taught to pupils at home initially? A pupil’s first day or two of being educated remotely will look different from our standard approach while we take all necessary actions to prepare for a longer period of remote teaching. In most cases, pupils will be directed to learning on Oak Academy for this first day, or two: Oak Academy
Following the first few days of remote education, will my child be taught broadly the same curriculum as they would if they were in school? Yes. It is the school’s aim that pupils follow their full curriculum and timetable if learning remotely. Reasonable adaptations to the curriculum content will be made where teachers know that certain learning activities will not be possible, e.g. certain PE sessions, resource required for art, programs required for computing.
How will my child access any online remote education you are providing? Pupils can access their remote learning through each pupil’s online learning platform (details above).
If my child does not have digital or online access at home, how will you support them to access remote education? Where possible, devices will be leant to families who do not have sufficient digital or online access. Where not possible, paper/hard copies will be arranged.
How will my child be taught remotely? After the initial day or two of remote learning, resources and lesson content will be uploaded each evening (ready for the next morning) to your child’s learning platform. In the event that a whole class are learning remotely, there will be daily live sessions and daily introductory videos by class teachers.
What are your expectations for my child’s engagement and the support that we as parents and carers should provide at home? We aim that through clear resources, live teacher sessions (including opportunities to speak to the teacher) and introductory videos, both pupils and parents/carers are clear on what is required – either to work independently or to support a pupil in their learning. Although we hope all pupils can follow the expectations of the work provided when learning remotely, we understand that the pressures at home and on families might make this challenging. Teachers are happy to speak with parents and carers should the expectations prove too much.
How will you check whether my child is engaging with their work and how will I be informed if there are concerns? Pupils are expected to submit all work to their online platform for teachers to see. Furthermore, pupils are expected to attend daily live sessions. If teachers see a dip in work submitted and/or attendance at live sessions, they will contact parents/carers directly.
How will you assess my child’s work and progress? Submitted work is assessed and marked in line with our Marking Policy. Regular feedback will be given to each pupil.
How will you work with me to help my child who needs additional support from adults at home to access remote education? Pupils with additional needs will continue to receive differentiated work when learning remotely. Additional live sessions will be provided where possible to those who need them. SENCOs will be in contact with families to ensure needs are being met as much as is reasonably possible.
If my child is not in school because they are self-isolating, how will their remote education differ from the approaches described above? It is not possible for teachers to deliver live sessions whilst still supporting a class in school. Therefore, if individuals are absent and self-isolating, they will be directed to Oak Academy on the first day or two of absence and have work uploaded to their online platform beyond that.
Further support
You may wish to support your child beyond the assigned tasks sent home each week. The following website and documents should be helpful:
Links to great online learning resources
DfE recommended resources and websites
Oak National Academy (online school)
Times Tables Rockstars
We subscribe to Times Tables Rockstars (TTRS) at St Mary’s. It is a popular and fun way to develop fluency in multiplication tables. Please do encourage your child to take play at home.
First News
Click on the below editions of the school’s subscription to First News, a children’s newspaper.
First News 10th-16th April 2020 edition
First News 17th-23rd April 2020 edition
First News 24th-30th April 2020 edition
First News 1st-7th May 2020 edition
First News 15th-21st May 2020 edition
First News 29th May-4th June 2020 edition
First News 5th-11th June 2020 edition
First News 26th June – 1st July 2020 edition
First News 3rd-9th July 2020 edition
First News 10th-16th July 2020 edition
First News 17th-23rd July 2020 edition
Art
Some useful websites to inspire art activities and creativity at home.
Royal Academy of Arts family ideas
Access Art – resources for home
Cooking
Cooking at home is a great way to learn culinary skills whilst also applying reading and maths skills in a meaningful context. It is also a fantastic opportunity to better understand healthy living and diets. We hope that all our children have the opportunity to cook and be creative in the kitchen. The below links to recipes should be useful:
