Cambridge School. Here you will find some fundamental information regarding the best possible schooling for your children in the Cambridge area. The relation between home and school and how parents can get involved in a possitive way. Cambridge School.

Get The Best Start

Homework

• Check your child's homework diary on a regular basis. Many schools run a system whereby parents are asked to sign the homework diary every week, which is countersigned by the tutor. There is often a space for a written comment too, so this is an opportunity for a simple exchange of information.
• Ensure that your child does their homework. This is, of course, not necessarily an easy thing to do, but you can help by showing a genuine interest in what they are studying.
• Make sure that your child has a place to work that is uncluttered and as quiet as possible - even if that means suggesting they work at the local library or a grandparent's house a few times a week.
• Pin up their homework timetable so that you are aware of what should be set.
• Check that they are working for roughly the right amount of time. Schools usually have guidelines that state the amount of work a child should be set per night. Contact the school if your child appears to be getting too much or too little.
• Discuss with your child the best time to do the homework. Some prefer to get it out of the way straight from school, others need a chance to relax between putting down a pen and picking it up again.
• Encourage your child to take regular short breaks.
• Keep TV as a treat for when they have completed a certain task.
• Try to be on hand to go over spellings or other topics on which your child might be tested.
• Suggest that your child does the major part of a piece of homework (like writing an essay) on one night, then comes back to it briefly the following night to check it through, when they are fresh.

"Pin up their homework timetable so that you are aware of what should be set"

• Most schools have a Parent Teachers Association, or PTA. This body is usually involved in social and fundraising events. As well as assisting in the purchase of educational facilities that are not normally supported by the Local Education Authority, the PTA provides an excellent opportunity to extend the relationships between school and home. Go along to the Annual General Meeting or contact the school office if you would like to be involved.
• All schools are run by a board of Governors, which oversees all aspects of school life to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. The body consists of the Headteacher, appointees from the Local Education Authority, Teacher Governors, Parent Governors and some co-optees appointed by the other governors because of their usefulness to the community.
• The principal concern is to provide support to the school, particularly in the provision of resources, by taking responsibility for the school budget and premises. Governors will often assist the head to appoint other staff, especially the more senior members, and to deal with serious disciplinary matters, such as the exclusion of unruly pupils. You do not necessarily need any special expertise or experience to become a governor ? just enthusiasm, commitment and time. There are usually elections for parent representatives and the term is generally of four years.
• It doesn?t have to take long to support your child and their school through your own involvement, and the rewards are great. Start by making one conscious home-school link part of your day ? even if it is just finding out just a bit more about Media Studies!

Other things you can help with from home:

• Put a copy of your child's timetable up in the kitchen so that you can help them prepare for school each day. Pack their bag with them the night before and ensure they have the necessary equipment for the day ahead, including a PE kit if necessary.
• Try to find a regular time to talk with your child about their school day. With younger children, you may be able to hear them read and comment on their progress in a notebook.
• Make sure that you are receiving letters from school. Check whether there is a set day on which letters go home.
• Do notify the school as soon as possible if your child will not be present. A phone message followed up with a brief written note is usually best.

Cambridge School

"Discuss with your child the best time to do the homework. Some prefer to get it out of the way straight from school, others need a chance to relax between putting down a pen and picking it up again"

Ofsted

Good Schools Guide

Cambridge School