Homework policy

Homework refers to any work or activities which pupils are asked to do outside lesson time, either on their own or with parents.

At ISH we believe that homework should make an important contribution to children’s learning. Equally important in the development of your child is to have the time to explore his or her own interests, physical activities, playing and experiencing their host country environment. We therefore believe in regular but relatively short homework sessions, especially since we realise that our children often have other demands placed upon them such as language lessons or Saturday school.

Our aims for homework at the ISH Primary are:

• To encourage progression towards independence and individual responsibility.
• To extend the learning experience offered to the children
• To stimulate children’s interest in topics being taught at school and to inform parents
• To consolidate children’s knowledge
• To encourage children to develop long term strategies, such at time management, for future needs

In order to achieve the above aims it is important that everybody involved in the homework process (teachers, children & parents) work together.

Therefore, teachers are expected to:

• Monitor and evaluate homework on a regular basis
• Provide children with feedback
• Provide children with achievable, relevant and stimulating homework activities, which will further develop learning
• Make use of a homework diary to communicate with parents when necessary

Parents are expected to:

• Monitor their child’s work and encourage the child by giving positive feedback.
• Provide the child with a reasonably quiet and peaceful place to work.
• Inform the teacher if the child is unable to complete the work
• Try to stick to the recommended timings of the homework.
• Provide children with the necessary tools for homework, such as dictionaries and writing materials.

Children are expected to:

• Complete their homework to the best of their abilities.
• Make use of and look after their homework diaries.

 
Recommended time allocation for daily home activities
 
(Please note these are guidelines only and may vary somewhat from group to group, depending on the needs of the children in the class.)

Teachers select from the menu of activities listed here

In addition to the above, children (in Years 3-6) will receive Mother Tongue homework for a minimum of half an hour per week.

For Dutch the children (Year 3-6, irrespective of the level) will receive homework on a weekly basis for 30 minutes. The homework will generally be related to work done in class.

Children who are on the EAL programme may also receive some extra homework from their EAL teachers, usually consisting of finishing off activities started at school.

Throughout the school, daily reading, either with parents or individually, will form an important part of homework.
 
This homework policy will be evaluated each year, using feedback from parents/guardians.