Home Learning
At Kinsale Infant School our Home Learning is going to be achieved in three different ways for the whole school through; reading books, library books, and a ‘10 things to do before the end of the year’ challenge. In addition, Key Stage One children have Doodle Learning: Spell, Maths and English as a fourth Home Learning opportunity. Home Learning is an important part of your child’s learning journey. It allows them to build on learning at school and supports their retrieval of learning.
All children
Reading books
Your child has one reading book a week. On a Monday reading books and reading records are handed in for the class teacher to see the reading that has been done at home. Our expectation is that each child reads at least 3 times a week and each time they do for it to be written in the reading record. For more information, please see the additional ‘Reading at home’ letter.
Library books – Reading for pleasure
Every week, your child will visit the school library to choose a book. Your child can change this book each week, please see your child’s year group newsletter (sent on Fridays) for their class changing day. This book can be read by an adult, read alongside your child or independently read by your child. Enjoy this book together each week.
This home learning is to develop children’s Cultural Capital. OFSTED defines Cultural Capital as ‘the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping to engender and appreciation of human creativity and achievement.’ At Kinsale we also see cultural capital as widening children’s horizons, raising their aspirations which can, subsequently, boost self-esteem, increase children’s engagement with learning and improve their educational outcomes.
Kinsale’s School Council have been developing this idea further and have been inspired by the ‘National Trust’s 50 things to do before you are 11 ¾’. They have made their own list -‘10 things to do before..’ (the end of Reception / Year 1 / Year 2). When children have completed any of the ‘10 things to do before’ challenges they will be celebrated by; being awarded certificates, sharing their achievements in classes, and adding their experiences to our Cultural Capital display in school.
Reception
In Reception class we encourage parents/carers to contribute children’s experiences at home to Tapestry. This often supplements our evidence of children’s attainment in school.
Key Stage One – Doodle
Doodle Learning is split into 3 categories (apps); Maths, English and Spelling. Each week there is a different learning focus for the children to achieve their green target zone. Each child has their own login and this can be used on phones, computers and tablets. For the best outcomes of this learning, we children should use Doodle at least 10 minutes a day, four times a week, to achieve good progression. Each time your child uses the apps, they are awarded stars. The amount of stars won will be celebrated weekly in our Celebration Assembly, including; ‘Top School Doodler of week’, and ‘Top Class Doodlers of the week’.
