A day in the life of Homework Club

On arrival, each child is paired with a volunteer based on a volunteer’s skillset and a child’s specific needs. They choose a classroom in which to work, taking with them their homework, evaluation record, reading book and Schofield and Sims Mental Arithmetic booklet. 

The child evaluates what level of support they think they need using the red (a lot), amber (a little) and green cards (can begin independently). Older children (Years 5 and 6) are also given the option of getting started on their homework independently and a volunteer will join them for reading and mental arithmetic.

Resources to help with homework are readily available, including a grammar reminder, writing guide, dictionary, thesaurus and maths dictionary. If a child needs a reference book on a particular topic, we have a well-stocked library and we try to use books rather than mobile phones.

Homework is followed by reading (which can be continued at home with our new borrow-a-book scheme), mental arithmetic and evaluation, which gives the volunteers the opportunity to review the session and the children’s progress and record this in the children’s individual record books.