Page 15 - Cherry Orchard Prospectus 2015-2016

HOMEWORK
At Cherry Orchard we believe that, as part of the process of teaching and learning, homework can make an important contribution to the development of our pupils. As parent/carer you can play a vital role in your child’s education by helping your child with a range of activities outside of school.
READING
Daily reading is recommended throughout the school, starting with a variety of scheme books and progressing to longer books, both fiction and non-fiction, of the child’s own choosing.
KIRFS
KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts) are designed to support the development of the mental skills that underpin much of the maths work in schools. We use these from Reception to Year 6. KIRFS are particularly useful when calculating, be it adding,
subtracting, multiplying or dividing. An important part of maths tuition has always been rote learning of certain numeracy facts. Each half term children are given Key Instant Recall Facts (KIRFs) to practise and learn at home as well as the work in school. These are sent home on A4 laminated sheets, with a KIRF for each half-term on each side and include practical ideas for parents / helpers to assist children in grasping the key facts. It is important that they know these thoroughly and can recall specific facts instantly. We strongly encourage you to engage with your children in the learning of their KIRFs; fun, practical ideas are included on the reverse of your laminated sheet and should be undertaken daily as part of their homework schedule. We know that, by internalizing these key facts which have been carefully structured to build upon each other term by term, year by year, children will leave Cherry Orchard Primary with a much stronger foundation of mathematical understanding to build upon.
HOMEWORK GRIDS
We feel that, alongside daily reading and practising of the half termly KIRFS in all year groups, it is beneficial to do some more creative activities too. From Year 1 onwards, these are presented in the form of a grid for the whole term and any activity can be chosen each week. The activities are based on three ideas: Time to Talk, Practice makes Perfect and Get Creative. Some will be active, some use the outdoors and some will be
creative, but all of them will definitely be fun! They
also include activities which link to our schools aims
and in particular the area of showing resilience.
Children will be encouraged to show/tell the rest of the
class about what they have done at some point during the week.
This might just be a photograph, a demonstration of a new skill or a recount
of the activity undertaken. They can then tick off the activity on their individual grid.
The grids will be placed on the website in case they are lost at home. You can see them at www.cherryorchard-pri.worcs.sch.uk/Homework.html
EXTRAS
At other times throughout the year children will be set separate homework or extended research projects which tie into their class work or their own individual needs.
MUSIC
All children who receive tuition in a musical instrument at school will be given a weekly practice timetable from their music teacher.
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