To think this is a lot of homework for Year 1?

[Untilthen]

DC currently comes home with reading every night (supposed to be 15 minutes though more like 30 as the books are longer now), and on a weekly basis, a spelling test, a sheet of handwriting practice, and 4 pages of maths and english.

We seem to be doing homework from the moment DC gets home every night otherwise it doesn't get done.

Is this a lot? I have friends with DC in Year 3 (in a more competitive and academic prep school than ours), that have only reading and a bit of colouring.

It sounds like a lot to me.

DD1 is in year 2, she gets 3 reading books a week (changed Mon/Wed/Fri). She gets one piece of either numeracy or literacy each week, given on a Thursday, due back Tuesday so we can do it over the weekend.

In addition, they are supposed to practice their "tricky words" (ones that can't be decoded using phonics, so they just have to learn them) through. The week.

I think if he can't get it done in about 30 minutes a night, spreading out the things that are due once a week, then yes, it's too much.

That sounds about right, depending on how long the maths and english take to complete.

The expectation in the state primaries I have worked in were daily reading, daily spellings, daily times tables (from Y2 upwards) and one piece of English and Maths each week, to take between 15 minutes and an hour depending on age.

If the English and Maths are taking longer than about 20 minutes I would check the school's expectations. It should also be pitched so that your child can complete it independently (even though in reality most young children need supervision to get equipment, sit down etc.)

As for the reading, there should not be any expectation to complete a school reading book each night. In fact, I would say that's a mistake as it doesn't allow enough time to discuss the book properly, which is as important as decoding the words. I'd expect just 10 /15 minutes of your child reading to you, and at least as long again of you reading to your child, but books of your choosing, not just school scheme books.

Ive just started teachers training amd there is a massive push on literacy and numeracy now in schools. Even as trainee teachers we are being tested and pushed quite a bit. I also have 3 DC aged 4.5 and twins 2.10.
DS who is the eldest comes home with a book a week and some sort of homework to do. It varies. Sometimes its maths, sometimes spelling. This week it was cutting out a jigsaw and then putting it back together.
If you are at all concerned with how much is expected if your child then speak to the teacher, have a look at the Department of Educations website. On there you will find the curriculum for your child and what levels of atainement need to be achieved.

Dc is in year 1 we have a book (we read daily for 10 minutes) and 10 spellings to learn (test on a Friday) we have been set a project on fire of London but have 4 weeks to do it.

That sounds far too much to me for only year 1. I'd have a chat about it with the school. Makes me wonder how those kids with 2 parents working full time are coping to fit it all in, as much as the child themself.

DD is in year 1.

She has reading every night and spelling (8 words) once a week.

Once a fortnight she has a writing / drawing exercise.

Yours sounds like a lot to me.

Yes, that's a lot iME. Speak to school about how long they expect all this to take (and push back if it's more than 15-20 mins)

First off, the books will get longer so don't try and read the whole thing in one night. Read a couple of pages, re-cap over what's already happened and discuss the pictures/predict what's going to happen. You don't have to do it every night either.
Handwriting, 5 minutes a couple of times a week (unless really keen!).

If the maths and English sheets take longer than 1 hour all told for each subject in the week, just do what you can in that time. Then talk to the teacher.

An hour or more a night is way too much. (And I'd give them Fridays off!)

Reading and handwriting practice are absolutely essential and will have a big impact on all the other work. Spellings can be practised as part of handwriting. Anything else can wait.

I would focus on handwriting everyday and reading everyday (although not necessarily the whole book) and leave the literacy and numeracy. Tell the teacher that it's too much, so they won't be doing it.

Yes it is a lot. But there is so much pressure put on schools and children to reach minimum academic standards at such a young age, I can see why some schools might feel they have to put some of the pressure onto parents.

You don't have to read the whole book every night, just do the 15 minutes. The spellings are important but I would use your judgement on the handwriting practice. If you think your child needs it then do it in full, but if they are quite good at handwriting then I wouldn't push it.

The maths and English is where I think they are pushing it. I'd do that at the weekends, and not worry about it too much if you are going away or are having a very busy weekend.

My dd2 is in P2, which I think is Year 1 (the academic year in which they turn 6). She gets 1-2 reading books, a numeracy sheet (at the minute it's coins), a literacy sheet (putting words in the right order in a sentence) & one other thing - labelling a diagram, finding words with 2 or 3 syllables etc.

Homework book is given out on a Monday, to be handed back on a Friday, so stuff gets done when it suits us best.

They don't touch spellings, no tests etc until P3 - very late in the term. I have an older child at the school & it's worked very well for her.

We were told at a curriculum evening last month - 10 mins or so a night is plenty.

sorry they get that a week, wasn't terribly clear

That is a great deal of homework for a Year 1. I teach YR, 1 and 2 and my Year 2s get nowhere near that amount of homework although I must admit my school is fairly anti homework in general besides reading and the odd project. I think too much homework at that young an age puts them off school, that is my experience anyway.

We get reading everyday, literacy worksheet, at least 4 sessions on the maths on line thingy and a weekend blog. Its too much, I work 4 days a week, most of it has to be done online so no chance to ask childminder to do it. Grrr, then they don't even ask/remind them to hand it in.

My ds is in yr 2 now but in yr 1 he had reading every night (we would read for 10 mins, usually time to read a book but once he started longer stories we would note the pg number where he finished and start from there the next day) 1 piece of maths and one piece of English (set on mon, had to be handed in on thurs) and spellings for a test on Fridays.

Way too much, hate it, think it's bollocks and also that there is no evidence to support that is in any way useful.