Blended / Home learning

At Calthorpe, we recognise that home learning can make an important contribution, at all stages of education, to pupils’ progress at school. Students’ learning continues through the completion of homework or via accessing remote learning at home in circumstances where they are unable to attend school. The homework provided to our students will be developed to enhance and help improve their Literacy, Numeracy and subject knowledge in a different social context. Its’ nature, purpose and quantity will vary according to the individual need and age of the student.

Through this offer, we aim to:

• Provide opportunities for parents/carers, our students and the school to work together in partnership in relation to student’s learning.
• Ensure parents/carers are clear about what homework is given when it is given and what their child is expected to do.
• Practise or consolidate basic skills for life and knowledge, especially in developmentally appropriate Literacy and Numeracy.
• Encourage students and their parents/carers to share and enjoy learning experiences.
• Ensure that the needs of individual pupils are taken into account when home learning tasks are set and the work covered is an appropriate challenge.
• Improve the quality of the learning experience offered to students and to extend it beyond the classroom environment.
• Use homework as a tool to help to continue to raise standards of attainment and enjoyment of learning.
• Encourage students to develop the responsibility, confidence and self-discipline needed to study as independently as they are able.
• Ensure consistency in the approach to remote learning for learners who aren’t in school

Homework:

Homework can be set in many different forms with different expectations and outcomes and the nature of homework is in line with each students’ curriculum pathway, the frequency of homework shall differ according to the students’ ability level. Homework is matched to the learners EHCP targets via our curriculum.

Homework is set at the start of each half term in order to have sufficient time for the learners to generalise their skills at home - communicating and receiving feedback from parents, carers and our learners is key to ensure that the work set is challenging and enjoyable- this shall determine whether more work needs to be set for home.

Parental and learner feedback and working in collaboration is key to the success of home learning- parents can email the class teacher or the Pathway Homework Addresses to celebrate learning and success that has taken place at home!

Homework approaches differ across our curriculum pathways. Here are typical examples of homework set for each pathway:

Engagement for Life:

All homework is based on the learners EHCP targets. Homework is set half termly (but can be offered fortnightly for parents who request it more frequently). To ensure learning is purposeful and develops learners interests learning is set from an area within the curriculum that the learner is highly engaged in. It is an extension of the learning target that learners are working on within school in order to support their generalisation of skills in a different context.

 Homework sheets to parents explain:

• What the target their child is working on in school
• Suggestions of what they can do at home to support their child’s learning
• Equipment they will need (*easily sourced household items)
• How to give feedback about their child learning at home

Foundations for Life:

All homework’s are based on the learners EHCP targets. One homework project consists of work on 2 key skill areas per half term in order for the learner to generalise their learning skills delivered both at school and home. Targets consist of:

• 1x Problem Solving & Thinking
• 1x Communication
• 1x either Social and Emotional Regulation or Routines & Engagement

Learning for Life:

Homework is used to reinforce work covered in class by providing further opportunities for individual learning, to practise or consolidate basic skills and knowledge, especially in Numeracy and Literacy.

There is a universal offer in place for all learners within learning for life pathway comprising of:

• Strand specific Learners: Literacy and Numeracy including reading books and epic books, Numicon and Mathletics.
• Pre – requisite Learners: Basic skills - Literacy and Numeracy at home ideas and art exploration packs. In addition targeted homework is set by class teachers based on the developmental needs of the individual learner.

This may include:

• Physio plans and exercises
• Spellings
• Language and communication – Key signs and symbols for learners to practice at home.
• Handwriting including gross and fine motor skills and letter formation,
• Education city resources related to ‘the world around us’ learning within the classroom.

Post 16:

Within Post 16 homework is linked to learner’s individual aspirational goals and the preparation for adulthood outcomes or accreditation with suggested activities. Tasks can be related to Accreditation. These will be sent termly with task suggestions each half term. Parents will record homework feedback on the provided ‘tracker’ and most able students will provide feedback of homework tasks they have completed.

Remote Learning:

Remote learning takes affect when a learner is absent for a period of 5 days or more. It is to enable all learners to access learning and provide a consistent approach for those who are unable to attend school.

We put the child’s wellbeing at the centre of our thinking in relation to remote learning- the primary focus around remote learning is the learner’s development of their EHCP targets which are set with parents/carers with education and health care professionals. We acknowledge that learners will have different reasons for not attending school and changes in routine can lead to learners not learning effectively due to change of routine/ illness. So with this in mind, we have thought about the most effective way to restore learners’ knowledge, skills and mental wealth by working in partnership with Parents/Carers and Health/ Care professionals centred around the child and learner views to ensure learning is purposeful.

Remote Learning Policy

Remote Learning and Safeguarding Annexe