Learning at Home
At Holtsmere End Infant and Nursery School we believe that any learning at home should:
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Support and reinforce core skills in reading, writing and mathematics
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Promote a love of learning and curiosity
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Be manageable, meaningful and inclusive for all families
Reading – Our Priority
Reading is the single most important thing you can do at home.
At school, we use the 'Little Wandle Letters and Sounds' systematic synthetic phonics programme (SSP).
This is a fully comprehensive programme where children start learning single letter sounds in the autumn term of their Reception year and it builds in progression throughout the year and Year One, preparing children for the statutory phonics screening that takes place at the end of year 1.
Each week we upload a video of one of our teachers explaining the week's learning in order for you to practise the sounds and words that have been learned in school, further reinforcing and practising learning.
For more information please click on our school phonics page:
For further information please visit the Little Wandle website and their parents section:
At home we ask that you support your child by:
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Reading 3+ times per week
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Re-read the same book to build fluency
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Encourage sounding out (not guessing)
Reading for pleasure
Reading for pleasure is a vital part of your child’s development, helping to build imagination, language skills, and a lifelong love of learning. At our school, we enjoy a daily story together and send home a weekly ‘reading for pleasure’ book, as well as hosting special reading breakfasts—we would love for you to join us and share in the joy of reading.
Useful links
We have a reading shed at the main entrance where you can avail of some free books to take home, all we ask is that you return them for others to enjoy when you are finished with them.
We also suggest that you join and visit regularly the library in Hemel Hempstead town:
Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP1 1DN
Writing
We always encourage children to write for a purpose and this could be:
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Shopping lists
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Labels for lego models and other creations
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Captions
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Simple sentences
You can encourage your child to say the word and use the sounds they know to attempt to spell it if they don't already know.
Maths
Your child will take home a ' Maths pack' which is the same as the one they use in school. Within the pack they will have all of the resources they need to follow along with the consolidation activities on the teacher video which is uploaded each week onto Tapestry.
Maths can also be supported and encourage at home by:
- Counting objects
- Practising number bonds
- Solving simple problems
Through everyday activities such as:
- Cooking
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Shopping
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Playing games
Wider Curriculum
History- Explore your local area
- Observe weather and seasons
- Talk with people from different countries and discuss how it compares to where you live
Art and Design
Explore colour and materials
Use simple materials at home
Learn about beliefs and celebrations
Discuss values such as respect
Develop basic digital skills
Explore simple coding
Talk abut feelings and wellbeing
Build confidence and resilience
We encourage children to be curious and explore the world around them. Through hands-on activities, simple investigations, and observation, children learn to ask questions, make predictions, and talk about what they notice.
Explore natureTalk abut seasonal changes
Carry out simple experiments together
Physical education (PE)
Practise basic skills like throwing and catching
Enjoy walks or outdoor activities together
Keep learning positive and pressure-free
Focus on reading every day
- Listen to a variety of music
- Encourage your child to move and respond to different rhythms and beats.
