Homework Policy
Why give homework?
Your child gets homework to:
• Practise and reinforce work already done in class.
• Test your child’s understanding of work covered or competence in skills.
• Provide an opportunity for the child to work independently and develop self- discipline
• Provide an opportunity for the child to use non-school resources (parents, library,
• environment, media, and internet).
• Provide a means by which you, as parents can see the sort of work which your child is doing in school.
• Engage you as parents in your child’s education in an active way and so become involved in your child’s learning.
How often is homework given?
• Homework is given Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays but not on Fridays or before public holidays.
• Sometimes at the discretion of the class teacher or the principal, children are given homework off, as acknowledgement of some special occasion.
• Extra homework may sometimes be given during the week or at the weekend if a child has not done homework, made suitable effort or presented untidy work.
*On Wellbeing Wednesday (1st Wednesday of the month), there will not be written homework.
What is the content of homework?
1. Ideally homework will contain a balance between reading /oral tasks, learning tasks and written tasks across the curriculum.
2. Sometimes project work may be given.
How much time should be spent on homework?
• The following are guidelines for time spent on homework. Different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time. Time spent will vary from day to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year.
Infants 10 – 15 minutes
1st & 2nd Class 15 – 20 minutes
3rd & 4th Class 20 – 30 minutes
5th & 6th Class 30 – 40 minutes
How Can Parents Help?
As a parent, you have a really important role to play in:
• Encouraging your child’s work.
• Observing their work
• Ensuring that your child has a quiet environment to work in. The television or other
distractions should not be taking place during the time allocated to homework.
• Making sure your child has all the necessary equipment e.g. pens, pencils, eraser etc.
• Being nearby in case of questions: but don’t take over.
• Being consistent. Discuss, monitor, check and sign homework every night.
• Encourage good presentation and handwriting
• The pupils journal is an important record of the child’s homework. It is also a valuable
means of communication between parents and teachers.
• Ideally all written messages to your child’s teacher should be put in the homework
journal.
• Please check that your child records his/her homework neatly in the correct page and
ticks each item of homework when completed.
How often do teachers monitor homework?
• Ideally teachers like to check homework on a daily basis.
• Some items of homework (and class work) may be checked by children themselves
under the direction of the teachers. This can be a useful part of learning process.
When should homework be done?
• Ideally homework should be done while your child is still fresh, soon after school
• Good routine is essential.
What happens if a child does not complete Homework ?
• Homework to be done the following night and signed by parent.
• If not done the second night, then the child may have to do work during break time.
When should parents communicate with the teachers about homework?
• When your child cannot do homework due to family circumstances
• When your child cannot do homework because he / she cannot understand some
aspect or it is too difficult
Ratification of Policy
This policy will be reviewed by the Board of Management when necessary.
This policy was adopted by the Board of Management In October 2019.
Your child gets homework to:
• Practise and reinforce work already done in class.
• Test your child’s understanding of work covered or competence in skills.
• Provide an opportunity for the child to work independently and develop self- discipline
• Provide an opportunity for the child to use non-school resources (parents, library,
• environment, media, and internet).
• Provide a means by which you, as parents can see the sort of work which your child is doing in school.
• Engage you as parents in your child’s education in an active way and so become involved in your child’s learning.
How often is homework given?
• Homework is given Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays but not on Fridays or before public holidays.
• Sometimes at the discretion of the class teacher or the principal, children are given homework off, as acknowledgement of some special occasion.
• Extra homework may sometimes be given during the week or at the weekend if a child has not done homework, made suitable effort or presented untidy work.
*On Wellbeing Wednesday (1st Wednesday of the month), there will not be written homework.
What is the content of homework?
1. Ideally homework will contain a balance between reading /oral tasks, learning tasks and written tasks across the curriculum.
2. Sometimes project work may be given.
How much time should be spent on homework?
• The following are guidelines for time spent on homework. Different children will complete the same homework in different lengths of time. Time spent will vary from day to day and also from the beginning to the end of the school year.
Infants 10 – 15 minutes
1st & 2nd Class 15 – 20 minutes
3rd & 4th Class 20 – 30 minutes
5th & 6th Class 30 – 40 minutes
How Can Parents Help?
As a parent, you have a really important role to play in:
• Encouraging your child’s work.
• Observing their work
• Ensuring that your child has a quiet environment to work in. The television or other
distractions should not be taking place during the time allocated to homework.
• Making sure your child has all the necessary equipment e.g. pens, pencils, eraser etc.
• Being nearby in case of questions: but don’t take over.
• Being consistent. Discuss, monitor, check and sign homework every night.
• Encourage good presentation and handwriting
• The pupils journal is an important record of the child’s homework. It is also a valuable
means of communication between parents and teachers.
• Ideally all written messages to your child’s teacher should be put in the homework
journal.
• Please check that your child records his/her homework neatly in the correct page and
ticks each item of homework when completed.
How often do teachers monitor homework?
• Ideally teachers like to check homework on a daily basis.
• Some items of homework (and class work) may be checked by children themselves
under the direction of the teachers. This can be a useful part of learning process.
When should homework be done?
• Ideally homework should be done while your child is still fresh, soon after school
• Good routine is essential.
What happens if a child does not complete Homework ?
• Homework to be done the following night and signed by parent.
• If not done the second night, then the child may have to do work during break time.
When should parents communicate with the teachers about homework?
• When your child cannot do homework due to family circumstances
• When your child cannot do homework because he / she cannot understand some
aspect or it is too difficult
Ratification of Policy
This policy will be reviewed by the Board of Management when necessary.
This policy was adopted by the Board of Management In October 2019.
