Author: Quinn, L ( Hillhead Primary )

Core Home Learning
As well as reading and spelling pupils will have a shared home learning grid each term.
This will be issued at the start of each new term. Pupils and families will be able to select the tasks they wish to complete per week. There will be 4 set tasks with a deadline for return, 4 Family Tasks and 4 shared learning tasks on each grid.

Stage	Tasks
Primary 1	Reading tasks and challenges / Tin of tricky words and phonics jotter, weekly / Termly Shared Home Learning Grid
Primary 2, 3 and P3/4	Reading tasks and challenges / Spelling—termly typed list of the rules and words sent out at start of term / Termly Shared Home Learning Grid
Primary 4, 5, 6 and 7	Reading tasks and challenges / Spelling—spelling rule and words to go home / weekly in a spelling jotter / Termly Shared Home Learning Grid

Scotstoun Primary School

Shared Home Learning
Guide for Parents

Frequently asked Questions
Q—I think there is too much choice for children.
Surely the should be told what to complete?
A– A Key aspects of the Scottish Curriculum is ‘personalisation and choice’ At Scotstoun Primary, we feel that by giving pupils a choice, they can select a task appropriate to their style of learning. Some tasks are set and have a deadline for completion and return.
Q– Why is reading so important?
A– Promoting a positive relationship with books is the best way of developing reading skills. We therefore encourage daily reading, family trips to the library, sharing texts together and for younger children reading a bedtime story.
Q– Surely homework is needed to set them up ready for secondary school?
A– we believe that the flexibility at Scotstoun Primary allows families to decide what is appropriate for them. There is a strong emphasis on shared learning. In school all the skills of independent learning, research, collaborative working and planning learning are taught. Shared home learning and tasks set are an opportunity to practice these lifelong learning skills.
Q– when you have three children to help and you’re just in from work, it is difficult to fit it all in.
A– our shared home learning grids are designed to be flexible in order to help families reduce the stress that homework can cause. We also recognise that having more than one child to complete a task with can be difficult , with this in mind there are Family Tasks on each shared home learning grid on the same themes, so that everyone can do them together.

Shared home learning
“It is important that home learning is useful, meaningful and takes account that parents may have time constraints… home learning should be creative and innovative and able to be incorporated into life at home. Home learning aims to include the whole family and can be based on learning already happening in school to enhance the skills being taught in the classroom.”
(Education Scotland Engaging Parents and Families, February 2017)
After consultation with pupils, parents and staff, Scotstoun Primary School has developed a whole school approach to home learning. We recognise the importance of working with parents in order to develop pupils learning experiences. As part of this, class teachers issue a class newsletter termly in order to give parents an insight into what their children are learning in the classroom, teachers will now add in ideas to support learning at home. This will give families ideas of how they can deepen their children's knowledge and understanding of certain areas outwith the classroom.
Ideas to support Shared Home Learning
· Read together with your child.
· Encourage your child to talk to you about what they are learning (use the curriculum leaflet and class newsletters to support this)
· Visit the library (tor books and topic links)
· Provide practical opportunities to practise their knowledge of maths concept, especially money, time and measure.
Look at these website for ideas and information: www.parentclub.scotland and www.education.gov.scotland/parentzone