Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to wish primary schools would do away with homework

156 replies

Mondaymoanday · 19/01/2026 19:16

When I was at primary, kids would be expected to learn some spellings, read, do times tables, maybe do a termly project at home. I hate how much family time is lost to busywork homework.

OP posts:
Sparrowandblackbird · 19/01/2026 19:28

I really struggle to do it.

Ds is reception so no ‘formal’ homework but we are encouraged to practice the phonics and writing. I honestly never know where to fit it in. He doesn’t want to do it as soon as he comes in; then he’s tired and ratty, mornings maybe but they are always a rush. God knows how we’ll manage in Y1!

Copiousamountsofpulses · 19/01/2026 19:26

I agree that they shouldn't get homework but think they should read regularly and that it should be recorded somewhere for their teacher to review when they can. My child is year 2 and gets a sheet a week, every week teacher checks and they get a sticker if it is complete, makes me feel sorry for the kids in the class who's parents don't encourage them to complete it. It's not the childs fault.

pimplebum · 19/01/2026 19:24

Hate it !!!!!

SquigglePigs · 19/01/2026 19:23

Completely agree. My year 2 doesn't get homework and I'm very happy with that.

She does have reading books of course.

User8008135 · 19/01/2026 19:22

I agree OP. My teacher friends in infant and primary hate it...with the exceptionof reading to their parents, they're all of the minds to enjoy time instead.

When I was stressing about it (dc2 has sen and struggles to work alone, despite schools instruction too- cue meltdowns) my friend told me it was pretty useless. Its meant to tell them kids can do the work alone (i.e have learnt what the class was teaching) and some kids easily can (but she knew they always would) but others have parents that won't have them stressing alone and in her class she knew at least a handful of parents did it for them.

AreYouBrandNew · 19/01/2026 19:20

How much homework does your child get? Mine are Year 6 and 2.

Year 6 have 10-20 mins of homework to do independently 4x a week.

Year 2 have a worksheet a week plus spellings. DS does his mostly independently.

I think that’s ok for them and fits our family life ok