Nursery and homework.

[MonkeyPuddle]

DS is 3, he was 3 in June.

Background info - he attends a large chain private day nursery two days a week, he is in the ‘preschool’ room, he attends 8am- 5pm, he’s been there since he was 18months and moved from the toddler room in September this year. Two days a week he is with me and one day a week he is with his dad.

They’ve started to send home homework, today he’s come home with a biff and chipper book, which he is supposed to read to me (I asked his key worker if I was supposed to read it, but no, he is) he can’t read! We read story books every day at home, we have lots.

He’s also got 5 worksheets, one has simple maths on, one about learning your address and ringing 999 in an emergency, one about family and two which need photos printing out and attaching.

He’s my first child and I have absolutely no background in education, but it all seems a bit much to me, but I accept my knowledge about preschool education is VERY limited so I accept I could be completely wrong on this, but my gut instinct is to say that this is all a bit formal and that reading stories, playing, crafting, physical activity together is more appropriate for his age? Rather than working out how many children the lolly pop lady crossed over the road?

No homework from our Outstanding rated nursery

I've worked in nursery for 27 years and never done regular homework like this. I've never heard of it being done either.

Seems excessive to me, DS gets homework but it’s can you colour in Elmer the elephant for the display board etc.

Deffo not just a picture book.
We read it tonight at bedtime, well, I read it to him, I’m not one to turn down a free story book! Normally if we’re reading a book we will chat about what we can see on the pages, have a chat about it etc.

I did query the book, specifically asked if I was just supposed to read it to him, but no, he should be attempting to read it to me too. He doesn’t fully recognise letters yet, let alone words.

The nursery is in an average/middle class area, wouldn’t say it’s particularly deprived, though there are pockets of deprivation in the area.

Please don't teach him the 999 thing.

I did query the book, specifically asked if I was just supposed to read it to him, but no, he should be attempting to read it to me too. He doesn’t fully recognise letters yet, let alone words.

That book os rediculous!!! I wouldn't even give it to any of the reception children I've taught in the past 5 years in the first term.

I'd be seriously questioning the nurserys knowledge of child development if they thought this was appropriate for a 3 year old.

I’m glad I’m not ‘that parent’ if I’m honest, I know nothing about education, but it did feel a bit much.
I’ll just hand it back next week and ask for him not to receive any more in the future.
I’ll be querying with them the rationale behind the decision to include the resources provided.

Jesus Christ - a nursery child should be attempting to read that?

Mental.

@MonkeyPuddle

Deffo not just a picture book. We read it tonight at bedtime, well, I read it to him, I’m not one to turn down a free story book! Normally if we’re reading a book we will chat about what we can see on the pages, have a chat about it etc.

I did query the book, specifically asked if I was just supposed to read it to him, but no, he should be attempting to read it to me too. He doesn’t fully recognise letters yet, let alone words.

The nursery is in an average/middle class area, wouldn’t say it’s particularly deprived, though there are pockets of deprivation in the area.

Haha no, that's like what my year 1 child brings home.

Does nursery feed into a selective primary??

No, it doesn’t feed into any particular primary schools. I don’t know if there even is a selective one in the area.

Won’t be teaching him the 999 thing either, it would mean him needing to know how to use my mobile and I don’t need that additional issue!

@AiryFairyMum

We have similar, I think it's good as they start school reading, writing their names and able to count to 20.

But you don't teach a3 yo to read by giving them a book like that and expecting them to read it. At BEST he might memorise a few sentences if you read it alot but they expect op to pop it in from of DS and him know to read

WTF? The only "homework" our nursery sent home was the class bear, which was more of an exercise ordeal for the parents tbh.

Oh, and we teach 999 to our Brownie Unit on a 2-yearly cycle. The 7-8 yr olds have no clue so how they expect a 3 yr old .