Helping your child at home
Helping hand: at home
- Help your child to have all the equipment they need for learning
• Ask your child what they have learnt at school and take an interest in these topics
• Allow your child to help you with shopping, cooking and other jobs around the house
• Be patient when your child is helping
• Make time for regular reading with your child including books, magazines, newspapers and online
Helping with homework:
- Provide a quiet place for your child to work
• Help your child develop a routine and set dedicated time aside
• Give encouragement and support to help your child complete their homework
• Help your child to learn the basics such as spellings and tables
• Take time to answer your child’s questions and address their concerns
Helping your child to learn in and out of the home:
- Link your child’s learning to family activities.
• Look for things in your local area that will help your child to learn such as nature reserves and museums
• Spend time playing outside and talk about the world around them
• Get to know what your child is learning and ask the school about it
• Take time to listen to your child and explain things carefully, developing their understanding and vocabulary
Helping hand: at school
- Offer to help out with educational trips, visits and clubs when you can
• Ask your child’s teacher how you can help in class e.g. with reading and practical activities
• Attend as many parents’ meetings as you can, especially ones that are about learning
• We all want the best for our children so don’t be afraid to ask questions
• Read the information the school provides – letters, leaflets, emails, texts or online
• Keep the school informed about family changes that might affect your child’s learning, however small
• Respond promptly to school communications and let school know if you change your contact details
Helping with school life:
- Join the PSA and get involved with fundraising to support your child’s school
• Give constructive feedback to your child’s school about what is working well
Exciting things to do together:
- There are lots of fun activities you can do as a family to help your child with their learning and to support the school curriculum
- Visit a museum or historical site
- Go shopping and use real money
- Walk in a woodland
- Plant seeds and watch them grow
- Visit the library and choose a book
- Make a tent, indoors or out!
- Plan a route using maps, compass or GPS
- Search for mini beasts or go pond dipping
- Look at the stars at night and find out about the planets
- Make a model, picture or collage with everyday household items
- Find time to sit together and think and dream
- Have a look at ‘My Activity Passport’ for more ideas.
