HOME LEARNING

Reading

At West Hampstead, we expect all children to read at home for at least 15-20 minutes each day. For our youngest children (in Nursery), this could be simply sharing a book with an adult who reads to them, but from Reception onwards your child will be sent home with a book matched to their reading level for them to practise their reading skills.

The reading record is used to show the class teacher what books are shared at home and how often.

Your child’s book and reading record should come into school every day to be shown to an adult in school. Children are rewarded in school for regular reading at home and can earn prizes including certificates and prize books.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)

As for all year groups, 15-20 minutes of daily reading is the expectation for years 1 and 2.

In years 1 and 2, children are set weekly homework through Maths With Parents. Please contact your child's teacher via year1@westhampstead.camden.sch.uk or year2@westhampstead.camden.sch.uk if you need help logging in.

Children at KS1 also take home the "Words of the Week" each week. These are spellings for children to practise at home which help them apply their phonic skills to writing.

Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4)

As for all year groups, 15-20 minutes of daily reading is the expectation for years 3 and 4.

Children in years 3 and 4 have a spelling test each week on Friday.  They will be sent home each Friday with their test result and a new spelling list to learn. 

Maths homework in years 3 and 4 is set using Mathletics.  Contact your child's teacher via year3@westhampstead.camden.sch.uk or year4@westhampstead.camden.sch.uk if you need help logging in.

Multiplication tables are a crucial part of the curriculum in years 3 and 4, we ask that children practise their times tables facts as often as possible at home.

Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6)

As for all year groups, 15–20 minutes of daily reading is the expectation for years 5 and 6.

Children in years 5 have a spelling test each week on Wednesday, and year 6 on a Friday.  Both year groups will be sent home each Friday with their test result and a new spelling list to learn. 

Maths homework in years 5 and 6 is paper-based.  Your child's teacher will send them home each Friday with a maths task to complete and return by the following Wednesday.

By year 5, children should hopefully know all their multiplication tables facts, so we also ask that children practise their times tables as often as possible at home to reinforce them.

Reading Record Guidance and Home Reading Tips are available as downloadable attachments on this page.