Home Learning

Homework

Research indicates that the setting of homework has a varied impact on pupil achievements. However, there is significant evidence that the practice of prior learning, including recall has a positive impact on a child’s understanding and long-term memory. There is separate and very compelling evidence that regular reading at home is of huge benefit to children’s social and emotional wellbeing as well as academic achievement. Whilst we never set homework solely for this purpose, we also acknowledge that we have a duty to prepare children for the demands of homework at secondary school. Homework also provides a useful opportunity for parents to see what children are doing at school and stimulate conversations about their learning.

With all of this in mind and having learned many lessons about the use of technology at home, we are now ready to step forward with some new homework arrangements.

With the exception of EYFS, homework for all year groups can be accessed via OneNote.  Each week, you will find the following information on your child’s OneNote page.

• An outline of the homework tasks for the week
• A link to the knowledge organisers for your child’s learning this term
• An overview of current spelling teaching, including example
• Important vocabulary the children are using in the current learning
• Any important year group reminders for the week ahead

In the sections below, you will find a summary from each year group with specific details about the homework they intend to set and the length of time children should spend on the activities. If children have not completed the homework within the suggested times, they should have a chat with their class teacher – we do not want them to be struggling with the work at home.

Please record all reading in your child’s Reading/Homework Journal.

If you have any issues accessing any of the online platforms, please contact your child's class teacher either via the office or by writing in their reading record.

If you have any questions regarding homework, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Remote Learning

If your child is required to self-isolate for any length of time or in the event of a school closure, we will provide them with remote learning.

Our Remote Learning is offered through Microsoft Office, using the OneNote App. Watch the videos below for support on how to access OneNote for the first time and how to navigate the platform.

Please see the tutorials below for guidance when using OneNote for the first time.

Remote Learning Plan

The information in the below document is intended to provide clarity and transparency to all stakeholders about what to expect from remote education at Mendip Green in the event of a school closure, if local restrictions require entire cohorts (or bubbles) to remain at home, or if individual children need to isolate.

Usernames and Passwords

All children have a unique username and password to access their classes remote learning through Microsoft OneNote.  If you have not picked up your child's exercise book yet, please pop to the school office as soon as you are able to. Their login details are written inside the front cover.

All usernames follow the same format. firstname.surname@mendipgreen.extendlearning.org

You will need to add @mendipgreen.extendlearning.org to complete your child's username.

Exercise Books

All children have an exercise book with their username and password inside the front cover.  If you have not collected yours yet, please pop and see us.

We have spare books available in the foyer if you need a new one.  Pop in any time and help yourself to what you need (these have a light blue cover and are for all children EYFS - Year 6).  We also have spare books with buff paper available - please ask in the school office if your child needs a new one of these.

Sequence of Learning

Our Remote Learning provision through Microsoft OneNote is sequential and builds upon prior knowledge. If your child has missed any of their learning due to illness or technical difficulties, they should pick the learning up from the last point they were working rather than the calendar date on each OneNote page.

Teachers will call the children in the class each week to discuss learning and provide feedback.

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us via the school office.

Story Time

Click on the link below to access stories read by MG staff and friends from the school community.  Choose from chapter books and short stories, well-known favourites and new bookish treats.

EYFS 

Homework in EYFS

We recognise the importance of effective parent partnerships within our EYFS classes. Using the online Tapestry app is a useful tool that we use to record and document your child’s learning and we hope that you are enjoying seeing some of the activities and learning that your child engages with at school. We welcome parental contributions to Tapestry and actively encourage parents to add comments and observations of their child’s interests and learning at home.

Through Tapestry, we will be sharing ‘Challenges’ for your child to undertake at home. It would be great for families to get involved in these fun ideas and for this to be shared with us on Tapestry. If you require further details or information about using Tapestry please see your child’s teacher.

Alongside weekly ‘Challenges’, the opportunity to practise key reading skills at home significantly benefits children’s reading development. We recommend spending a few minutes each night supporting your child with these key skills. You may wish to share their library book together, encourage your child to look at the sight words to aid spelling and recall, practise writing the newly learnt graphemes or encourage your child to read their book to you. All of these activities can be recorded in your child’s Reading Journal.

EYFS children also have access to Numbots, a great maths website and app that will help the children practice their basic number skills. We use this resource in Year 1 and Year 2 as well.  Your child’s class teacher will share their details with you.

A summary:

• Take part in the weekly ‘challenge’ set on Tapestry. We will share a new challenge every Monday which children can join in with any time
• Read every day (this can be a mix of bed time stories, reading to an adult and phonics/sight word flash cards)
• Play on Numbots for any length of time

Homework in Year 1 and Year 2

The children now have access to Numbots, an online interactive program that supports children with their mental arithmetic skills in the form of interactive games and activities. It can be accessed via a web browser and an app with a home-user guide. We will introduce the children to Numbots at school and we will also be using it in class.

We will share user names and passwords with you during our parent/teacher meetings.

Alongside reading at home five times per week, we will set a short activity on Numbots for the children to complete at home. This should only take a maximum of 20 minutes across the week.

A summary:

• Read every day (approximately 10 minutes a day). This can be a balance of being read to by an adult and discussion about what they have read).
• Approximately 20 minutes of Numbots – a few short sessions would be more beneficial than one long one
• Year 1 and Year 2 children will have the links on their homework page, and information about the vocabulary, spelling and phonics updated regularly as the focus of learning changes.

Homework in Year 3 and Year 4

Children should continue to read 5 times each week and record this in their Reading Record for parents to initial. This could be a mixture of their colour-banded reading book, their library book or a book from home. Children will benefit from discussing their reading with an adult as often as possible.

We are using Times Table Rock Stars to improve the children fluency with times table facts and children should spend 20 minutes each week on the TTRS activities. Passwords for OneNote and TTRS will be shared during parent teacher discussions this week.

Each week, there will also be an additional 20 minute activity focusing on previous learning. This will be from the wider curriculum and is aimed at reinforcing the essential knowledge taught through the curriculum.

Homework should take no more than 40 minutes each week (excluding reading).

A summary:

• Read every day (at least 10 minutes a day).
• Approximately 20 minutes of Times Table Rock Stars – a few short sessions would be more beneficial than one long one
• One additional activity based on prior learning that should take no longer than 20 minutes.
• Year 3 and Year 4 homework will be set on Friday and will due on the following Wednesday

Homework in Year 5 and Year 6

Children should continue to read 5 times each week and record this in their Reading Record for parents to initial. Children will benefit from discussing their reading with an adult as often as possible.

We are using Times Table Rock Stars to ensure the children have rapid recall of times table facts. Children should spend 20 minutes completing TTRS activities. Passwords for OneNote and TTRS will be shared during parent teacher discussions this week.

Each week, there will also be one or two additional activities focusing on previous learning. This will be from the wider curriculum (including maths and English) and is aimed at reinforcing the essential knowledge taught through the curriculum. These tasks should take approximately 40 minutes.

Homework should take no more than 60 minutes each week (excluding reading).

A summary:

• Read every day (at least 10 minutes a day).
• Approximately 20 minutes of Times Table Rock Stars – a few short sessions would be more beneficial than one long one
• One additional activity based on prior learning that should take no longer than 40 minutes.
• Year 5 and Year 6 homework will be set on Friday and will due on the following Wednesday