How Can I Help My Child at Home?
At Godinton Primary School, we value the partnership between home and school and therefore encourage parents to help support their child’s learning in many different ways. This may be practising and developing skills they have learnt at school, visiting local museums or further reading or research about a topic they children are enthused by.
On this page you will find information on how you can support your child at home.
Year Group Welcome Letters
Each year group produces a welcome letter at the start of the academic year which will hopefully answer any queries which parents might have about the work their child will be doing in class this year. Please click on the links below to view the relevant year group letter.
Welcome Letters 2024-25
Homework Trails
At the start of each term, the year group will be set a ‘Homework Trail’ which will last for the duration of each term. This trail includes weekly ‘Base Camp’ tasks, a menu of ‘Trail’ tasks which are all linked to the Learning Adventure topic, and an ‘Extra Mile’ Challenge. The choice of homework tasks all relate to work being taught in class and provide further practice and reinforcement of our Learning Adventure themes. Children are strongly encouraged to complete the tasks set but homework is not compulsory.
Regular reading, spelling and the retention of number facts and multiplication / division facts are essential in the development of English and Maths skills as they underpin many concepts. These tasks will form the ‘Base Camp’ activities which children are expected to complete on a weekly basis. ‘Trail’ tasks are a set of 9 tasks that the children can choose from, ensuring that the centre task has been completed—they cover a broad range of subjects and interests. The minimum expectation is that 3 tasks will be completed over a term in the children’s homework books. Our new homework system will replace ‘creative homework’ that has operated in the school in previous years.
‘Extra Mile’ task – Children who ‘go the extra mile’ and complete 6 squares will receive an ‘Extra Mile Sticker’. Any children who complete 3 ‘Extra Mile challenges’ during terms 1-5 will take part in an end of term treat.
At the start of each new term, each class will hold a ‘Trail End Showcase’ where children can share their homework from the previous term and celebrate their hard work. Children only need to bring their homework books back into school on Trail End day.
HOMEWORK TRAILS 2024 - 2025
Year R Homework Trail - Term 2
Year 1 Homework Trail - Term 2
Year 2 Homework Trail - Term 2
Year 3 Homework Trail - Term 2
Year 4 Homework Trail - Term 2
Year 5 Homework Trail - Term 2
Year 6 Homework Trail - Term 2
Maths Calculation Policies
The methods used to teach maths have changed over time and can vary slightly in different schools. At Godinton, we have created a maths calculation policy to show how we teach mathematical methods. Click on the links below to view these policies.
Progression in Maths Calculations
Maths Visual Calculation Policy
Recall of Multiplication and Division Facts
The National Curriculum expects children to know all their times tables up to 12 x 12 by the end of year 4. At Godinton, children initially learn the multiplication facts for a particular table e.g; 2 x table. The children then develop their knowledge of multiplication facts and the associated division facts using the coloured times table system. The children progress through the different colours and learn both the multiplication and division facts for a set of calculations. This method helps to reinforce the link between multiplication and division. Click on the relevant link below to view the different times table tests.
| Multiplication A | Multiplication B | ||
| Division A | Division B | ||
| Complete Mixed A | Complete Mixed B | Complete Mixed C | Complete Mixed D |
The ability to recall multiplication and division facts at speed is vital. These facts are regularly applied to many areas of maths and therefore they can never be practised too much. There are lots of online times table games which children can play.
Reading
Our aim is to encourage all children to read as often as possible and for the children to develop a life-long love of reading. It is our observation that children who read regularly at home, and therefore read a wider range of texts, tend to demonstrate greater progress in reading, writing and spelling.
Please click on the link above to view the recommend texts for different age groups.
Spelling
For details of how Phonics is taught at Godinton Primary School, please refer to the separate phonics page where details of our Monster Phonics Scheme can be found along with video clips illustrating the correct pronunciation of each sound.
For children in years 3,4, 5 and 6 spelling is taught daily building upon the phonics knowledge acquired in Key Stage 1. The children learn key spellings each week which all contain the same phonetic sound. Weekly spelling tests do not take place however, there is a weekly dictation task where the children use the spellings in the correct context. Spellings lists are made available to the children if they wish to take them home to undertake further practice.
To support your child with spelling at home, we have included links to The National Curriculum statutory word lists. The spelling lists contain a mixture of both words pupils frequently use in their writing and which they often misspell. When practising spellings are home, it is also important that children understand the meaning of the word they are learning to spell and the context in which it can be used.
Godinton Primary School
The registered office is at Lockholt Close, Ashford, Kent. TN23 3JR