Research has established that Homework or Home learning has a positive effect on learning and pupils’ progress, particularly at secondary school.
What is Home Learning?
- Home learning is the work your child does away from their teachers and the classroom.
- It is crucial for developing their ability to work independently, to consolidate what they have learnt in class and to learn how to work through challenging things on their own.
- This in turn is a very important part of preparing them for exams. Whether we like it or not, this is how they will be judged on leaving school!
- It gives students an opportunity to engage in self-regulation by them learning to inhibit distractions, use strategies complete work independently, manage time, set goals and self-reflect on their performance.
What do we expect?
- At OSA students should expect to do some HW per night Monday – Friday. The exact amount will depend on their year group. There is more subject specific information available in the Curriculum booklets.
- The tasks will be online on Show My Homework. Here the teachers will provide the task(s) with clear instructions and any support materials the students should need.
- SMHW also tells them when the work is due to be handed in. It is very important they learn to honour deadlines.
- We expect students to check SMHW every day as soon as they get home from school and to complete the tasks in order of priority – fully and to the highest standard they can.
- You will also have your own login for SMHW so you will know what work your child has been set and when it is due.
How you can support?
- You can help your child to be successful in their Home learning by:
- ensuring they are able to check SMHW (a phone app is also available), check with them where possible;
- making sure they can sit at a table and in a quiet room;
- making sure distractions are avoided – remove mobile phones (unless needed for SMHW), televisions off, no social media checking, do not allow younger siblings to be a distraction;
- encouraging them to have all books, resources and equipment they will need on the table in front of them
- encouraging them to read every word of the instructions carefully, think back to what they were learning in the lesson and use this
- encouraging THEM to pack their bag for the next day checking everything they need against their timetable
- remembering it is their work not yours!
What to do in case of difficulties
- students should see the teacher as soon as possible and get further support/guidance
- it is essential that they then complete the task – building resilience is very important
- they can ask their tutor to refer them to the Home Learning team who can offer specific and personalised support