At Bursley Academy, we firmly believe in the importance of developing life long learners that will enjoy acquiring knowledge and finding out about things through independent study and a desire to succeed. None of this is possible without developing the children at an early age in learning outside of the school environment as well as within.

We also appreciate how important the links between home and school are, and the need for us to work together to ensure a good education for your children.  It is for this reason that we believe it is important that children begin to bring work home from a fairly young age.

This enables you to help your child to learn and for them to see parents and teachers working together for their success. 

Our approach to homework is consistent throughout the school, in that it develops basic skills through challenging children to learn new ideas, whilst consolidating skills that will build the foundation blocks for future learning.

Teachers will set and mark work but have a firm expectation that parents will ensure the work is completed and submitted on the appropriate day.  For any other problem with homework, please come in and speak to us or write a message in the school diary. If you do not have access to a home computer or internet, or if your access is temporarily disrupted, please see your class teacher in the first instance to discuss a solution.

Phonics – lots of useful tips on how to pronounce the sounds, skills to support reading

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/welcome-back/for-home/reading-owl/advice-for-parents

Times Tables

We would like to inform you of a new multiplication reward scheme that we have begun this year from years 1-6. As multiplication and division facts are fundamental skills that provide the foundations on which to build more complex mathematical thinking, we are doing everything we can to engage children and promote independent learning. Pupils will be encouraged to ask their teacher to test their knowledge when they feel confident that they know their multiplication tables. If they can chant all the way through they get a bronze sticker. If they can recall them out of order then they will be rewarded a silver sticker and if they know the corresponding divisions they get gold.

Please ensure that your child is learning their multiplication tables at home. All pupils should know all of their multiplication facts by the end of year 4, which will be tested by the government.

Education City – KS1

Education City is a website which provides engaging, educational resources and games for students aged 3-12 years for Maths, English and Science. Children have their own log-ins which have been handed out; please ask your child’s class teacher if you have misplaced them. Children should be able to navigate and use the site themselves. If they need help with any questions, parents can help, but should not answer the questions for the children.

Sum Dog – KS2

Sum Dog is a website that is full of educational maths games and challenges. The web address is www.sumdog.com. Children have their own log-ins which have been handed out; please ask your child’s class teacher if you have misplaced them. Children should be able to navigate and use the site themselves. If they need help with any questions, parents can help, but should not answer the questions for the children. This is not set homework, but can be used as often as parents want, to help support their child’s understanding of maths, and ability to work under the pressure of timed conditions.

Oxford Owl

Children now have access to a wealth of reading materials in school using Oxford Owl, an online library and reading study website. You can register for free and once logged in, your child will be able to read a wide range of books which they can search for by book band level, genre and much more.

Homework Hints for children

• Homework area – find a quiet place, remove any distractions and concentrate on what you have to do, thinking carefully about what you have learned that week.
• Take pride in your work – make sure the work you do at home is just as good as the work you would do for your teacher in school. You should always try your best and feel pleased and proud of the homework you hand in – this way you can be sure that your teacher will be pleased, and that you have learned lots.
• Plan your time effectively – spread homework out across the week, don’t try to cram it all into one evening, or it won’t be done as well as it could be.
• Have a go – don’t rely on an adult to help you, have a go on your own first, then ask for help and guidance if you need it. Your teacher needs to know what you can do well and what you have struggled with. Ask an adult to make a note on your homework if they have had to give you lots of help, or if you really found it too challenging.

Please see our Homework Policy for further information.

Thank you for your support