How to help at home
'Creating Lifelong Learning Opportunities for Everyone'
Home Learning Approach
At Old Stratford, we want home learning to be meaningful, enjoyable and flexible for every family, by providing a range of optional home learning opportunities that pupils can access when it suits them.
Our core expectation for all pupils remains focused on the essentials that make the biggest difference:
- Reading at home at least five times per week
- Regular practice of times tables to build accuracy, speed and confidence
Each half term, children are offered a Curriculum Project linked to their class topic. These projects include suggested activities that deepen understanding, encourage creativity and allow children to explore their learning in a way that interests them.
In the final week of each half term, children will have the opportunity to showcase their project in class, sharing their work with peers and celebrating their effort.
Home learning beyond reading and times tables is reward-based and entirely optional, giving children freedom and choice in how they extend their learning at home. To support this, we have created a collection of free online learning tools for Maths, English and wider subjects. These can be used at any time to build confidence, practise key skills and explore new interests.
Our aim is to promote a love of learning at home while giving families the flexibility to engage in a way that works best for them. If you have any questions or would like further guidance, please speak to your child’s class teacher.
Find each classes home learning on their Class pages.
Home learning:
There are many other ways in which you can help your child at home.
INDEPENDENCE
Independence is key to a child's learning. If a child can do something by themselves then always let them. We can sometimes help our children too much. Children enjoy independence more that you think. Try some of these activities to encourage age-appropriate independence. Click on your child's year group and challenge them at home.
READING
Reading is a key skill that your child will need to achieve in life. You can help your child achieve their full potential by giving your child lots of opportunities to read. Here are some ideas you could try at home:
- Let them see you read.
- Share a newspaper or a magazine.
- Encourage them to read the backs of cereal packets.
- Read to your child regularly - even 8-11 year olds enjoy being read to. Try a book that would be difficult for your child to access on their own. This will increase their comprehension skills and improve their vocabulary.
- Listen to your child read. Question their understanding.
- Visit the library or take your child to a good book shop to browse.
PHONICS
It is important that children learn to say the pure sound so that are able to blend and make words for effectively. Please use the following links to help your child at home when learning their phonic sounds.
Reading digraphs with your child
10 things to think about when you read to your child
MATHS
There are lots of things you can do at home to help your child with their maths skills. Fluency is important so learning keys skills such as number bonds and times tables is key. Use the links below to help at home.
Follow the links below to help your child at home with maths fluency.
SPELLING
Spelling always needs lots of practise. The best way to help your child is to make it fun and often. Here are some websites that you can use at home to help.
