Homework & Reading at Home

At Elmridge we believe that children benefit greatly from the mutual support of parents and teachers in encouraging them to learn both at home and at school. By valuing home-school learning, pupils are afforded the chance to practice skills, consolidate understanding of work covered in the classroom and to widen their own interests. Moreover, developing good study habits provides an opportunity for pupils to develop self-discipline, independence and the ability to take responsibility for their own learning.

Weekly homework tasks are set on the school learning platform Seesaw, which children can then complete in their homework books. Where a worksheet is required, a copy will be sent home. Teachers will share the class homework timetable with parents on our class websites and on our class Seesaw journals at the start of the academic year. Our homework timetable can also be found in the policy below.

Homework

Seesaw is an app that allows teachers to set learning activities for children. It also allows children the opportunity to share their learning with their teacher for feedback and acknowledgement. It is also a way for parents to see what home learning tasks have been set and keep up to date with information from school.

Parents can download the free Seesaw app via the app store or through https://web.seesaw.me/. (Please note that by setting up this App you will automatically be giving permission for the school to use this App with your child.) You will receive an individual code from your class teacher, which provides your child access to their class journal. Each child will receive a unique code, so if you have three children in the school then you will receive 3 unique home learning codes for each of them to access their own class. The children must access the code on that day to gain access. If they are unable to do this, you will need to request a new code from the class teacher.

Will I need a laptop?

Seesaw can be downloaded onto a device such as a phone or tablet, or alternatively you can login online on a laptop or computer for example.

What if I’m having difficulty logging on to the app?

If you require support please speak to your class teacher who will be happy to offer help. In addition, you can access useful help and guides in the documents below and at https://help.seesaw.me/hc/en-us/categories/4525919080333-Families-Students

Reading at Home

At school, we see every day how powerful reading can be – and this begins at home.

We ask that children read their home reading book daily. These books are carefully chosen to match each child’s current reading ability or the phonetic sounds they are learning in class. Regular practice with the right level of text helps build confidence, accuracy, and fluency. When children read fluently, they can focus less on decoding words and more on understanding, enjoying, and engaging with what they read.

Daily reading also exposes children to a rich range of vocabulary. The more words they hear and see, the more confidently they can access the wider curriculum – from understanding tricky maths questions to exploring new topics in science, history, and beyond. A strong reading habit unlocks learning across every subject.

Alongside their school reading book, we encourage families to enjoy a bedtime story together. Sharing stories is a wonderful way to end the day, and children are never too old to enjoy being read to. It supports language development, strengthens comprehension skills, and fosters a lifelong love of reading.