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Home Learning
Home learning refers to tasks given to students by their teachers to be completed outside of usual lessons. Common home learning activities in Primary will be reading or practising spelling and number facts, but may also include more extended activities to develop inquiry skills.
It is certainly the case that schools whose students complete home learning tend to be more successful. However, it is not clear whether use of home learning is a reason for this success.
[Education Endowment Foundation]
Therefore, at ISB we ensure that we provide a balanced approach to home learning. Families live extremely busy lives and opportunities for social interactions and play should never be hindered by home learning activities.
The broader evidence base suggests that short focused tasks or activities which relate directly to what is being taught, and which are built upon in school, are likely to be more effective than regular daily homework.
[Education Endowment Foundation]
Home learning may be received in many different forms and is never compulsory. Our ethos is to inspire students to continue their learning at home and to empower parents to support this process. We encourage all students to read daily and maintain a record of what they have read.
NumBots
NumBots is an online game. Playing little and often will significantly improve a student's recall and understanding of number bonds and addition and subtraction facts. These are critical foundations in Maths so we are excited by the impact NumBots has. Successes in NumBots are celebrated during weekly assemblies.
TT Rock Stars
At ISB, we are on a mission. It is our aspiration that every pupil knows and is able to recall their multiplication tables to 12 x 12 by the end of Year 4. There is no short cut to learning multiplication and division facts. Without a solid knowledge, pupils will struggle in all areas of the Maths curriculum at ISB.
When it comes to times tables, speed AND accuracy are important – the more facts your child remembers, the easier it is for them to do harder calculations.
Times Tables Rock Stars is a fun and challenging programme designed to help pupils master the times tables. To be a Times Tables Rock Star you need to answer any multiplication fact up to 12×12 in less than 3 seconds!
Barvember Maths
We’re excited to introduce Barvember, a month-long Maths challenge designed to strengthen problem-solving skills through fun, daily puzzles. Using bar models as a visual tool, Barvember helps students break down problems, make connections, and find solutions – all while building confidence in Maths.
Pobble Writing
Each day a new picture and activity is set up to stimulate your writing brain into action ... you can also look back over all the previous days for other pictures and activities. We encourage students of all ages to access this wonderful resource together with their families. Pobble 365 is a great way to initiate discussions and extend vocabulary, and that is before we even get to the writing activities. Access Pobble 365 here.
We have also teamed up with Pobble to create a number of home learning activities to support both reading and writing. There is a particular focus on time away from screens.
Handwriting
We understand that developing strong handwriting skills is a key foundation for your child's learning journey, supporting both their confidence and fluency in writing. To assist with this, we have gathered some optional handwriting resources that you can easily print and use at home. These resources are designed to help your child practice letter formation, build consistency, and improve their overall handwriting technique in a fun and engaging way. Whether your child is just beginning to form letters or moving on to more advanced styles like cursive, these tools provide valuable support. Please feel free to use these resources as it best fits your child’s pace and interest.
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