Home Learning

At St Chad’s, we believe that children learn best when school and home work together. Our home learning approach is designed to be simple, joyful, and meaningful — with a strong focus on play, language and reading.

We know that our children are still very young, and we never underestimate the power of a bedtime story, a walk in the park, or a chat at the dinner table. These everyday moments help build vocabulary, confidence, and curiosity — and they matter just as much as anything we teach in school.

Working in Partnership

We see parents and carers as partners in every child’s learning journey. That’s why we’ve created a home learning approach that’s easy to access, flexible, and designed to fit into family life. We use Class Dojo to share weekly updates, reading tasks, and ideas for home learning — and we love seeing your photos and videos of children learning at home.

We also run regular drop-in workshops to help families get started with Class Dojo, and we offer extra support for parents who are learning English or need help accessing resources. Further information on our Family Support Programme can be found here.

Home Reading

Every child from Reception to Year 2 brings home two books each week:

  • A reading practice book matched to their phonics level

  • A sharing book (from our school library) to enjoy together as a family

We ask families to record a short video of their child reading their practice book each week and upload it to Class Dojo every Thursday. These videos help us celebrate progress and give children a chance to shine. At the back of each book, you’ll find simple questions to help spark conversation and support your child’s understanding of the story. 

We encourage all families to make reading part of everyday life — whether it’s a story at bedtime or a trip to the local library. We help Reception families register for library cards and organise regular visits to help children explore new books and authors. Further information on home reading can be found here.

Spelling and Phonics

Each week, children receive a short list of spellings linked to their phonics learning. We encourage a “little and often” approach — just a few minutes a day can make a big difference. Children practise these spellings in school every Friday through dictation activities. Year 1 children also receive phonics packs to support the Phonics Screening Check. These are sent home each half term, with extra support available for children who need it. Further information on our phonics programme can be found here.

Home Learning Projects

Every half term, we set open-ended home learning tasks linked to our class themes and Collective Worship. These are designed to be playful, creative, and collaborative — from making a model of a favourite animal to going on a nature walk and talking about what you see. We encourage families to take part and make it a shared experience.

Meet the Love Bear

One of the most special parts of starting Reception at St Chad’s is being given your very own Love Bear. These cuddly companions help children settle into school and feel safe and loved. Each child chooses a name for their bear and keeps it close throughout their time with us.

Love Bears often join in with home learning — reading stories, going on adventures, and helping children practise new words. They’re a gentle way to build independence and confidence, and they play a big role in our school’s values of love, friendship, compassion, and respect. 

Nursery

In Nursery, we support children’s development through play, exploration, and strong home-school partnerships. Families complete 52 Things to Do Before You’re 5, a project developed by Derby City Council to support early childhood development through local, free, or low-cost activities to foster speech, communication, physical skills, and early literacy and maths in children. These activities align with the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and help parents see how everyday moments can support learning. We encourage families to share their experiences weekly via Class Dojo, helping us celebrate progress and deepen connections.

Supporting Every Child

We personalise home learning for children with additional needs, making sure it’s accessible, engaging, and matched to their stage of development. This might include sensory activities, communication games, or extra phonics support. We work closely with families to make sure every child feels included and supported. For more information about how we support children with additional needs, please click here.