Welcome again from Primary! It is time, this month to look at a theme that often causes anxiety and stress within any school or home with Primary aged children in it, Homework.

This theme is potentially contentious, with as many opinions on it as there are people involved in education of young children. As this is the Head of Primary’s blog, I will try to give a balanced view.

Many people are glad for their child to have homework. It keeps them busy for a while and hopefully consolidates what they have learned. Others believe that their children should not have the additional burden and should be allowed to be free to explore and choose what to do with their time, once the school day is over. I believe both opinions are valid and that begs the questions, what type of homework and what is homework for?

Homework can come in many forms from reading a passage, asking questions, or completing a project independently. It can be a short task or extended over several evenings. My preferred type is one that uses learned skills but in a different context or involves researching information (Preparation) to be used the following day.

Homework of the type that just repeats work covered or is set at a level too difficult for a child to complete alone, has little inherent value. Failure is inevitable. Homework, when set, should challenge a child but also consolidate their understanding of the concepts covered in class. Its main value is in the information on individual understanding that it provides, to the class teacher. By gauging the level of understanding, after marking a homework assignment, a teacher can adjust their planning and make informed decisions on whether to move forward or plan for further consolidation. It can also be used to refer children who have specific difficulties to our educational needs department for quick interventions.

We encourage parents and carers to be involved with their children’s education and that includes homework. However, if your child is struggling with the work set, we do not ask that you complete it for them! Your best course of action is to encourage your child to keep trying. Discuss the work with them, make suggestions but do not be tempted to do it yourself. Do not take all evening, just the time (about an hour) that would normally be set to complete the task. The teacher would much better appreciate a note from you explaining that your child had difficulties and that is why it is not complete, than a perfectly completed task that they can only give a mark to you for.

Whatever your opinions on homework, we do set it here at MIA. We believe it does have value but should not be too burdensome or just an expectation. Until next month…….all my best wishes.

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