Year 1 Homework

Year 1 was the most frustrating year for us as parents and for our child (although Year 6 is proving as frustrating as they have been ready for secondary for some time). The first term was mainly teaching the class how to sit in a classroom setting after the free play of EYFS.

I now have two kids who sit in the top 1% nationally. Reading is the most important thing. Once they can read then the world is their oyster. They can teach themselves languages, physics, philosophy.

I remember in reception being told both kids would need to learn to teach themselves and I'd agree with that.

I prefer no homework because it means I get to choose which workbooks and online supplements to use. When the school assigns them, there’s less time to use resources you prefer

Just saw your latest post. If your child is a super advanced reader at this age, sounds like she will be fine to get in to grammar school.

Then do it! The school isn't stopping you. You absolutely have the chance.

As for the reading being too easy - Google the importance of prosody for reading.

We have no homework in Year 1 and the autumn parents’ meeting is an opportunity to ask what you can be working on specifically for your child. You could raise it with the teacher to find out what particular materials they’re using etc. But maybe your child is ahead of the rest of the class in which case homework would not necessarily help? My Y1 child is still finding the one sentence per page books challenging enough. If it’s too challenging at this age they are more likely be put off.

Remember in this country DC start school at a young age, your DC is presumably only 5. Year one is much more classroom based than Reception so they are doing lots of hours of learning already each day. Remember, not all careers are maths/English focused. Lots require social skills, critical thinking etc. Don't fall into the trap of deprioritising other experiences that could be beneficial.

If you want more guidance then email the office, who contact the teacher and they will message with what resources will best support their classroom learning. DD has just started yr1. She goes swimming on a Wednesday and Rainbows on a Thursday. Quite frankly, with the reading (we get 2 linked books) to be done at least 3 times a week plus homework bingo once a week that's more than enough! Don't get me wrong I do what I can with games/life experience and there's at least a bedtime story at night but I work ft too so there isn't much time between getting home and bedtime.

Surely you viewed the school beforehand and were satisfied with their ethos, how happy the children were and the displays of work that they have up?

Is it a primary school? If so, view their Y6 SATS results and that will give you a good idea of how well their policy on homework works for them.

www.gl-assessment.co.uk/press-office/press-releases/new-study-highlights-the-importance-of-reading-to-the-whole-school-curriculum/

Regarding your point about how reading helps with number bonds, it is a known fact that reading helps with maths. There are numerous articles online, such as the one here.

So it might actually be most beneficial to focus on a love of reading at home, rather than formal homework. This certainly worked for DC1 who (to quote their English teacher) "inhaled books". DC1 got a 1st from Imperial College in a STEM subject and is now working as a scientist. DC1 has always been very intellectually curious and is interested in a wide range of subjects including science (obviously), history, art, culture and travel.

If unhappy with the current school why not move your child now to the school that does all this.
I would much rather my child went to a school that understood the need for down time.

But there is evidence that primary school homework leads to, on average, 3 months of progress. You can have a no homework philosophy for your family and agree that it’s good to do wider learning, but it’s unhelpful to dismiss the evidence base.
OP you will probably need to make your own Y1 homework - spelling, writing and maths.

Your child is 5. Let them enjoy being 5.

You admit yourself your not an educator so perhaps listen to the viewpoint of the head and her experience and let that support your child’s education.

Coaching a child to pass a test is not improving educational outcomes or intelligence. 11+ coaching is not ‘primary school homework’. Schooling in a grammar is what may improve educational outcomes.

Intelligence is largely genetic and KS1 SAT results are indicative of GSCE outcome.

@Didimum how is this possibly true, when it’s a known fact that tutoring improves children’s performance so they can pass 11+?

I simply don’t understand this idea that all children will simply “absorb” knowledge and skills from everyday life. Sure, I can say to ds “come and help me peg out washing.” And then I’ll say “pass me some pegs … oh you gave me three but I need five, can you work out how many more I need and hand them to me please?”

But two minutes later he will just run off and dig holes in the garden or jump on the trampoline.

Whereas if we sit quietly indoors for 20 minutes I can do some lovely focused maths and I don’t need to worry about creating “learning moments” when I’m trying to get chores done!

Your kid is 5!

"Homework" should be

• reading. Get books from the library, read at home
• incorporate learning into daily life. Help mum write out a shopping list, follow a recipe and measure ingredients
• play board games, dice games etc
• build with lego and talk about how you are rotating the pieces, counting the dots etc

Provide rich learning opportunities across a broad spectrum and not only focussed on things like maths & english. Piano lessons, swimming, a nature group, a dance class.

i don’t think the OP does get this - just the reading book.

Homework at this age isn’t needed. Make sure you read lots and get out and about. If you’re worried about the books not being challenging, ask the teacher for the next level to try. But you can do things yourself - do you have a library or bookshop nearby? You can find lots of great games online or websites to print activities from. You can also buy some nice board games that focus on logic games/maths. Or do some word searches (English) or bake following recipe (life skills, motor skills, maths, reading).

applying learning at this age is more important. Skill will develop more naturally and your child will probably enjoy it more than sit down sheets etc!

have fun!

But you have got homework?

Reading book
Spellings
Either phonics or maths

How much do you want for year 1?

We just do it at home without the guidance. So a few pages of a maths book per week, reading and her DS to write a sentence every day at the breakfast table. This was mainly because my youngest was in year 1 during COVID and we realised how much the teachers hadn't picked up on where she was/what she hadn't understood. So now we do little check ups with both DC using the books.

It’s fairly well established that homework in primary school does not improve outcomes.

Go ahead and do whatever educational support you like, but don’t put it on the school or the other parents.

Not to be contrary but there is evidence that homework has a positive impact at primary (as well as secondary)
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit/homework

But @Justcallmedaffodil it is so much more helpful if what you are doing at home aligns with what they are learning in the classroom. Sure, we can learn about money, tell time, recognise shapes and measure or weigh things easily at home. But it “sticks” better if they are doing these things in school at the same time.

I agree it is feels a bit much sometimes (ds now in y2 has TT rockstars, English homework, two reading books, spellings and maths every week) but we aren’t told off if it’s not done perfectly every week!