Homework Policy

Regular homework is a valuable part of the learning process and it helps children to develop good study habits. Homework tends to be completed to a consistently higher standard when parents/guardians take an active interest in the task by asking spellings and tables, hearing reading, etc. Homework notebooks must be signed each evening by an adult, thereby informing the teacher that the work has been checked and deemed satisfactory. The homework notebook also provides an opportunity for regular communication between school and home.

Parent guidelines for establishing good homework routines are available in an INTO handbook Tips for parents. This booklet as well as a copy of the school’s homework policy is available from the school secretary.

Guidelines

Pupils are not permitted to leave the school premises during school hours without written parental permission. In such exceptional circumstances as medical appointments etc, they should be collected by a parent or parental nominee (as outlined in written request) and also accompanied back to school afterwards.

Infants should be accompanied to and from school each day. Parents should see them safely to their room in the morning, avoiding prolonged departures that can often cause distress to all concerned. Those collecting infants should wait outside the hall area so that teachers can easily identify who is meeting each child and can hand over the child to their care in safety. Children will not be permitted to leave their classroom until the adult collecting them has been identified. If different people collect your child, please provide the class teacher with a list of names.

• Junior Classes

Junior Infants are not always set written homework. Once formal reading commences, a new page (more than one page if the child is able) is read in school each day if possible. Parents are asked to listen to their child reading this page at home and also to use accompanying flash-cards, if needed, for sentence building and as a check-up on the acquisition of sight vocabulary. This type of reading homework continues (with or without flashcards) right through to the end of I Class.

Senior Infants commence written homework after the mid-term break in Term 1. This would consist of e.g. one page of English, Maths, Environmental Studies workbook or a worksheet, completion of which should take 5 - 10 minutes. For I and II Classes written homework should take 10 - 15 minutes to complete and it reinforces topics covered in school in English, Irish, Maths or Environmental Studies.

There is a gradual build-up in spellings and tables. Catchwords spelling series by Charles Cripps (Collins) is used throughout the school. I Class commence Irish spellings in Term 3 with one/two per night and this continues throughout II Class.

• Senior Classes

Homework is set on work that has already been taught in the classroom. The aim is to reinforce concepts taught and to find where weaknesses lie, either in the learning or teaching process. A maximum time of one hour should be spent on homework.

Pupils should be encouraged to complete homework in an environment conducive to study and good effort i.e. no television or extraneous noises and interruptions. For senior pupils, the child's own room should provide the best setting. Homework should always be checked by a parent/guardian and the pupil’s homework notebook should be signed to show the work has been completed to the parent/guardian’s satisfaction.

Children should be encouraged to complete homework at a routine time each day, preferably after a break, but never last thing at night.

Weekends should be free of homework, except for special assignment of work that should be at the discretion of the class teacher.