Year 6 Homework Information

Dear Parents, Carers and Year 6 Children,

As we begin our Year 6 journey together, we would like to explain what homework will look like throughout the year. Homework is an important part of Year 6 as it gives children the opportunity to practise the skills they have been learning in school, develop good study habits and become increasingly independent in their learning. We understand that children have busy lives outside of school, so our homework will be designed to be manageable, purposeful and linked closely to the work taking place in class.

Our Weekly Homework Schedule

Once we are fully up and running, Year 6 will have a homework task set every day from Monday to Friday. Each day will have a particular focus:

Monday – Spellings
Every Monday, children will be given a new set of spellings to learn throughout the week. They will have the whole week to practise these spellings at home, and they will be tested on the following Monday. Children should spend a little time regularly practising their spellings rather than leaving them all until the weekend.

Tuesday – Grammar
On Tuesdays, children will be given a grammar-focused activity. This will provide an opportunity to practise and consolidate the grammar skills we are learning in class. Children will have one week to complete the activity, with the next grammar task being set the following Tuesday.

Wednesday – Reading
Wednesday homework will focus on reading. Alongside completing the reading activity, children must also bring their reading diary into school. We ask that children read regularly at home and that their diary contains a minimum of one parent/carer signature from the previous week. Reading is a vital part of Year 6, and we really appreciate your support in encouraging children to read regularly at home.

Thursday – Arithmetic
Thursday's homework will be an arithmetic-style activity, giving children the opportunity to practise their calculation skills and reinforce methods taught in school. Again, children will have a full week to complete this task.

Friday – Maths
On Fridays, children will be given a maths task from our maths homework books. This will be closely linked to the mathematical learning taking place in class and will give children further opportunities to practise and apply their skills independently.

Introducing the Homework Gradually

Although this is what our full weekly homework schedule will eventually look like, we will not introduce all five pieces of homework at once. As we begin the school year, the homework will be introduced gradually so that the children can get used to the routines and expectations without feeling overwhelmed.

For example, Monday 7th September will be the first spelling homework that is set. The following week, children will receive their next spelling homework on Monday and will also begin receiving their grammar homework on Tuesday. We will continue to add another homework task each week until, after approximately five full weeks, all five areas of homework are up and running.

This gradual introduction will allow children to establish good routines, understand what is expected of them and develop the independence that is so important in Year 6.

Homework Club

We understand that finding time to complete homework at home can sometimes be difficult. There will therefore be an opportunity for children to complete their homework during Homework Club during a break time and a lunch time (day to be confirmed). This is a chance for children to work in school, ask for help if they are unsure about something and make sure their homework is completed and ready to hand in.

We encourage children to take responsibility for their homework and to speak to an adult in school if they are struggling with a task or need some additional support.

Homework Expectations

We expect all Year 6 children to take their homework seriously and to make every effort to complete it by the required deadline. Developing these habits now will help prepare children for the increasing independence and responsibility they will experience as they move towards secondary school.

If homework is not completed, children will be expected to complete a percentage of the outstanding work during the first 10 minutes of their break or lunchtime. This is not intended to be a punishment, but rather to reinforce the importance of completing work on time and developing positive learning habits.

We are very grateful for the support of parents and carers in helping children establish these routines. Your encouragement with reading, spellings and checking that homework has been completed will make a huge difference. Ultimately, however, we want the children to become increasingly responsible for organising themselves, remembering their homework and completing it independently.

We are looking forward to working together to make Year 6 a successful, enjoyable and productive year. Thank you for your continued support.