Year one workload

[Efferlunt]

I just wanted to gauge of this was normal in terms of workload for year one. I was told that things would ramp up but I wasn't expecting things to be this crazy. As well as reading every night there will be tests every fortnight for which we have to prep at home. This week we need to do number bonds for ten and learn six spellings including some three-syllable words. DS's behaviour has gone downhill dramatically and he seems to be really feeling the pressure and is reluctant to do any work at all. Just not sure I'm comfortable with this and worried he will basically end up hating learning. School say this is how it has to go with the new national curriculum.

[Imperialleather2]

We had an information evening and I must say I was a bit shocked at how full on it all seems. The time table is really full on.
We get a new book every night, a read write Inc worksheet, a maths worksheet and 6 spellings weekly.similarly ds is not overly impressed so ibhavecresorted to bribery. If he does his work he gets to play on the ipad. Its probably terrible parenting but it seem.to work.

I they just need to adjust

[mummytime]

I'd doubt every school will be interpreting the new NC quite like that.

I have to say my biggest regret for my oldest children is that I wasted so much time on homework. I'd have done better to be feckless, and made out of school work something they actually needed.
Spelling tests are well known to not help spelling BTW.

You can't force fed learning for children.

[mrz]

I teach Y1 and my class have their home reading books changed when they are returned having been read, this could be everyday or every week depending on parents.

[louisejxxx]

We average 4 books a week and are doing weekly spellings...but the words are by no means as difficult as what you seem to have been given. This week's set is: he, she, can, in, on, went.

[Bogburglar99]

DD just completed Y1 but in a mixed Y1/2 class still.

Reading theoretically nightly but is not heavily policed just encouraged. Spellings sent home to be learned for a weekly test. Times tables encouraged to be learned as and when.

I think that's plenty. The new kS1 curriculum is more demanding but I don't think that justifies passing the pressure down to parents via high levels of homework for very little ones.

[PrincessHairyMclary]

My DD has had the same book for 2 weeks and we haven't had any homework yet. Although her school is in a disadvantaged area they tend to give them time to settle until half term.

[5BlueHydrangea]

I was shocked last week when suddenly lots of homework arrived too!
Dd had a number bonds sheet to discuss/colour (no explanation given but that's what we did),
An English sheet with 4 pictures to write a sentence how you would feel if it was you,
Ten spellings, then we had to choose 4 to put into a sentence.
Reading book changed twice a week (same as last year)
A sheet of sums, and there is an online maths thing too with work set but we haven't tried it yet.
Dd was worried as last weekend we were busy, as we often are. we got it done spread over the week but overall not including the reading it took over 2 hours altogether which I think is a lot for her and us! I did mention it to her teacher and she said it wasn't her decision but a standard thing. Not impressed! Some in her class are seriously struggling!

[Sirzy]

Wow that to me seems a rediculous amount.

DS has just gone into year 1. His reading books are changed when finished (we read every night) and then on a Friday he gets a sheet with phonics and maths topics for the next week and some activities you can do at home to support them. They ask that something is written in the homework book but no pressure as to what.

[mrz]

Might be standard for that school but not standard across England.

[glenthebattleostrich]

We get 2-3 books per week, 1 piece of homework and 10 spellings.

I consider this excessive at 5

[Lurkedforever1]

Dds school always did it more individually if it was literacy/ numeracy etc following on from class so everyone was asked to spend about the same time on it. iirc it was about 10mins a week max in ks1 plus reading.

[Efferlunt]

Thanks everyone I feel a bit better knowing its not just our school run mad. I do question the way they are expected to do so much at this age when kids in other countries haven't started formal school yet and respectable scientific studies show that it's better to concentrate on play at this age. I'm going to try and make it as fun as possible.

[fiftyshadesofgrot]

Only 1 reading book per week, 5 spellings per week with a test at the end of half-term. Option to change the reading books throughout the week. No Maths or English homework as of yet. Writing practise if you want to. Maths and English practise is also optional via the school website. We live in an 'advantaged' area so to speak that achieve high KS1 results (93% pass rate in 2014). So perhaps less is more. Concentrate on the vital aspects of the new national curriculum otherwise they will get bombarded and fall behind with the pressure.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Unfortunately ds had this type of pressure when he was in yr 1 and it did not end well. It became so bad I ended up home schooling him so he could learn to read. It seems that the NC states that this is what should be taught at a particular year and if you can't keep up then you fall by the wayside. Everyone gets the same homework whether they are capable of it or not.

[Ellle]

I think it all depends on the school's interpretation of the NC.

Last year when DS1 was in Y1 under the new curriculum, he didn't have homework until 2 or 3 weeks after they'd started when they were settled.

His homework was one or two pages of maths, or phonics, or one of each, or something about the topic they were learning at school. He never had spellings lists or spellings tests. He never had to practice for tests on numbers bonds.

He is now in Y2, and the homework has increased a bit compared to last year. Now we get three pages with maths and English excersises. And I think from today he'll be getting spelling lists to learn before a test at the end of next week.

[MazyCrummy]

It makes me sad for my DS that he's being sent home with spellings to learn that he can't even read. At no point during FS2, right up to the end of year report, did anyone suggest he was struggling or below average, yet the words he's bringing (6 per week), I need to help him to read them before I can help him learn to spell them. Last week's included afraid and away, but I was expecting he'd start with the high frequency words a PP mentioned (he, she, etc). He gets them on Monday, tested on Thursday, and he's worrying about them already for next week. I've just asked if the teacher could phone me next week to discuss - she's away today - because I can't see what good struggling all week can be doing him. If they are words that the average 5 year old should be able toread and spell, why did no one flag last year that he was falling behind?
FWIW, he's my 4th child within 7 school years, and I don't remember the others being in the same position.

[Squidiot]

We've got four reading books a week plus a library book, handwriting sheet (double sided), spellings (four this week, plus use them in sentences, but luckily no test), homework task on a Friday which alternates between English/maths/ topic work. dd is not coping so well at the moment as they also have very structured days all of a sudden and do "too much hard work" (her words). She's only 5 fgs.

[Tuiles]

Wow, this is interesting. I have a y1 child and so far there had only been reading - which they choose the pace of by changing books once they are read. Nothing else.

If I'm honest the amount of homework you lot are talking about for y1 sounds similar to what my eldest is now encountering in y4 - and moaning about!

High achieving leafy suburbs schools BTW.

[MazyCrummy]

Tuiles (and everyone else!) I'm not concerned about the amount of homework DS is getting (I'm OK with 6 words per week, plus reading) but the level bothers me. Could all of your DCs read and spell words like afraid at this point in yr1?

[TheGonnagle]

We read every evening and the book is changed daily.
Ten spellings to learn in a week, and each one must be written into a sentence.
This weeks spellings are he, she, blot, got, much, chicken, and some others that I've forgotten. We do the spelling sentences over the weekend and I ask her them when I remember in the rest of the week.
We moved from state to independent at the beginning of the spring term and the homework expectation dropped hugely.
And no, MaisyCrummy, I don't think she would be able to spell afraid. Away would be ok, but not afraid.

[onemouseplace]

2 reading books changed once a week and English/ Maths homework handed out on Friday to be in on Wednesday - this week was draw a picture and write a sentence (or two!) and number bonds. No spellings yet, but they will be coming.

Autumn born (slightly swotty) DD is fine with this. I suspect August born DS who has just gone into reception will struggle massively next year and I'm quite glad I can mentally prepare us for this.

[leccybill]

2 reading books per week, plus one library book (I read that to her). One key words/spelling sheet per week. A couple of maths websites to browse.

DD is not as happy as last year, I can tell. She says there's no playing and it's all work, work work.

Poor things, they're only 5.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Mine are a bit older but in year 1 they had reading (books changed as and when finished, encouraged to read at least 4 evenings a week) Plus 5 or 6 spellings (supporting that week's phonics work) and one short piece of either Numeracy or Literacy. That seems more than enough to me!

[leccybill]

Although they did have a themed fun day one day this week, and have watched a few episodes of Numberjacks, so clearly not all work, work, work!

I am a bit worried though. DD does four activities after school (2 x dance classes, swimming and Rainbows) and I'm worried she might burn out. She's only tiny.

[Squidiot]

Mazy my dd definitely wouldn't be able to spell (or read for that matter) 'afraid'. She's still on pink reading books, so a little behind and shows some signs of possibly being dyslexic. So any spelling lists are hard for her.

leccybill dd does no after school activities this term (partly because I can't afford any just now) and I don't think she would cope, either.