Homework reinforces what students learn in the classroom and helps them develop essential skills like responsibility, time management, and independent thinking. It provides an opportunity to practise and apply new concepts, leading to deeper understanding and long-term success. Homework also helps teachers identify areas where students may need extra support, allowing for more targeted instruction.

However, we also understand that children need time to play, spend quality time with family, and explore the world around them. That’s why we believe homework should be meaningful, manageable, and take no more than 30 minutes per week. This time can be spread out across the week and may include activities such as sitting at the table to chat or complete a short task, sharing bedtime stories, playing games, or working on simple projects together.

Our goal is to support learning while also nurturing the whole child, both in and out of the classroom.

Supporting Spellings at Home
 

At Anton, we believe that teaching the children to become confident spellers is an important life skill. Each week, the children have a different set of words – linking to a spelling rule or statutory word list – that they will practice during three discrete spelling lessons. They will then be assessed on these words on a Friday through a dictation. These words can be found on the bottom on the half-termly homework and will also be uploaded to spelling shed each week. We understand that it can be difficult to find the time during the week, however little and often is often the best strategy e.g. while making dinner, walking to school, while the bath is running etc…

To support you with this, we have created a simple guide on how to use spelling shed and attached some short (and hopefully fun) activity ideas to support the children learning their spellings at home.

For any further information, please do not hesitate to get in contact with your child’s class teacher.

Spelling shed is a fun and interactive website where children can practice their weekly spellings. All children have their own logins and will receive weekly assignments (games to play) that have been set by their class teacher and are linked to their weekly spellings.

Visit: https://www.edshed.com/en-gb/login or download the Spelling Shed App.

Login using your child’s username and password, which should be stuck on the inside of their yellow reading diary.

When you have clicked on your child’s assignment for the week, they will be given the option to play different games. They will also be given the option to select the level of difficulty for each game from easy to extreme! They will have the opportunity to earn points and buy clothing/accessories for their avatar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I help my child?

• Provide a comfortable and quiet area and choose a time when your child is relaxed and not hurried.
• Talk through the set tasks and choose those that your child finds interesting and engaging.  They must also be at a level they understand, but with some challenge.
• Work alongside them, offering support when they need it.
• Encourage them to take pride in their work and remind them how it can help their learning in school.
• Check your child’s home learning when they have finished and feel free to write a comment into their home learning book.
• Remind your child to hand in their homework on the day it is due.

What if we do not fully understand the task?

• Get your child to re-read the instructions and ask them to try to recall the lesson from which the work comes. Talking this through often helps them to remember what the task entails.
• If your child is still unsure, it may be that they need to choose a different task, which is absolutely fine.
• Above all do not let your child (or yourself) get anxious or upset.

My child does not like to sit and complete schoolwork, what should I do?

• There will be a variety of learning styles incorporated, such as practical, discussion based, creative as well as written, so something to suit everyone!
• Little and often works well for children, as their concentration can be limited and we do not want them to become frustrated and learning to become negative.
• It is always worth seeking advice from your child’s teacher as they may advise on strategies that support in school.
• Prioritise reading as an absolute minimum.
• We also offer homework club after school each week. Please look out for more information sent out by the Admin team. 

What if my child is becoming distressed?

• Stop them from continuing the task and try to find out what the problem is.
• Reassure them that as long as they try their best, they should not worry if the task is not completed – no-one will tell them off if they try.
• Let the teacher know of any specific difficulties that concern you.

I want extra home learning for my child – what can I give them?

• Join the library and take your child as often as possible. Encourage them to read widely and choose both fiction and non-fiction books. Ask your child questions about the book they are reading and encourage them to retell the story or recall facts to you that they have read.

Other useful home learning links