Making sure students have everything they need to complete their homework

Homework books

To ensure students have a clear place to record their homework answers and workings, we recommend providing them with a separate book for their Maths homework. This will mean:

• Students can take it home easily when needed
• Teachers can take them in without disrupting lessons
• Students can still work in their class book if they did accidentally leave it at home

Topics that require special equipment

• Sparx content covers topics that may require students to use extra equipment, such as a ruler, a protractor, or a compass.
• These topics are flagged to you in both the Scheme of Learning Builder and Planner so you can ensure students have access to the equipment they will need to fully complete their homework.
• Questions that require additional equipment will only be asked as part of In Focus homework and will not be included in consolidation in future weeks.
• Below is an example of a skill that requires this equipment:

  
  

Provisions for students without access to equipment, the internet and/or a device

Students may not always have access to the right equipment, the internet and/or a device to complete their homework. In these instances we recommend schools consider putting some or all of the following provisions in place:

• Provide a weekly homework club for students where they have access to school devices and equipment to complete their work (see below for ideas) 
• Arrange for students to have access to an IT suite or Maths room with computers during lunch and/or break times
• Loan devices and/or equipment to students to be taken home each week
• Explore whether there is any additional funding the school can access to help provide devices and/or equipment for disadvantaged students

Using a Homework Club to support students

• Homework clubs can be vital in supporting students who need a quiet space, or who don't always have access to a device or the internet at home.
• They can also be key in helping students who may still be stuck after watching the support videos and need a little help to finish their last questions. 

To get the best results from Sparx Maths Homework, we highly recommend giving students the opportunity to access a regular homework club, ideally before their hand-in deadline. This helps to create an environment where students are fully supported to complete their work on time each week. Additionally, having this support in place makes it easier for class teachers to encourage independence in their students, and to uphold high expectations for full homework completion. 

Sparx schools run their homework clubs in a variety of ways, from offering daily whole-school homework clubs in the library to lunchtime clubs run by student mentors or drop-in sessions run by the maths department. In any case, the spaces provided should include access to computers or devices.