AIBU to think there is too much pressure and expectations put on infant school children

[BazilGin]

This may be a huge cultural difference that I will never get over. I started primary school at the age of 7. I move to the UK 10 years ago and my August born daughter started reception just after her 4th birthday. This in itself is wrong, but I am honestly shocked at the curriculum the teachers have to follow. She has just started year one and is given spellings every week that the teacher tests on Monday morning. AIBU to think this is too much too soon? She is doing well academically, but said she is sad they are not allowed to play and "in the morning it's literacy and we just have to get on with it". At this age I though they are just learning through play! Clearly not !! I honestly believed that infant school will be more play based, but they were doing lots of writing/ready ng etc even in reception. DD went to a wonderful Montessori preschool and somehow I thought that infant school will be just extension of that, sadly not. I wish the whole system was different. If my circumstances were different, I would home school as it breaks my heart.

[Kitsandkids]

I was just thinking today how sad it is that my kids don't get to experience my laid back primary schooling of the 80s and early 90s.

There was no homework, no spelling tests, an hour and a quarter dinner break plus morning and afternoon play times, lots of art, PE, singing in the hall and no SATs. I had such a lovely childhood.

Now they seem to have to learn grammar rules before they can even read. At my children's school, which I do love in many ways, they are kept in at play times if they didn't understand the work, kept in if they don't get a high enough score in spelling tests etc. It just all seems relentless pressure to 'improve standards' and push, push, push the children on without giving them time to consolidate their learning. Reading books are sent home that are too difficult in hopes that the children will rise to the challenge but, in my children's cases anyway, it just puts them off reading. Spelling lists are sent home that are difficult and don't all follow the same spelling rule, so they are a real challenge to learn every week. I'm told to let my junior aged children do their homework without my help, but then work is sent that is too hard for them to do independently. Why must they be pushed so hard all the time?! Why can't they do work at the level they're at?! Sorry for the rant but like I say, it saddens me that my children aren't enjoying the lovely primary education years that I did.

[Cuppaand2biscuits]

Just today my daughter has bought home a booklet about expectations at the end of year one. I am astonished and quite depressed about how much they are expected to achieve by July, such a massive leap from reception. And my daughter is one of the older ones and is quite a sit down, listen and learn type of a child, although that might be worse because she'll want to do well and might be upset if she finds it difficult.

[SleepFreeZone]

I plan on handling it exactly like NoShouting. My DS has been delayed in everything so far bar gross motor skills. He freaks out if I try and push him and completely closes down. He starts school next year and I'll be damned if I'm going to try and force education on him at home if it just causes huge stress and arguments.

I shall attempt to do spellings etc but if he is having none of it I shall just let him languish at the bottom of the class and steer him towards a trade later on. Not everyone is academic and it doesn't have to dictate whether you are successful or not later on. I know plenty of trades people who left school with one GCSE and are now minted.

[Aeroflotgirl]

kitsandkids I totally agree, gone are the carefree days of 80's primary and 70's preschool for me, where were no learning goals and learning outcomes and chikdren were not monitored and scrutinised within an inch of their lives. We had lots of trips, singing in the hall, some RRR, no homework, a couple of spellings per term.

[Aeroflotgirl]

No wonder kids want to leave school at 16, they have had enough! I will vote for whoever party changes this crap!

[Aeroflotgirl]

IT seems the government want to be like the Chinese system, which is so wrong. They are barking up the wrong tree.

[switswoo81]

Yanbu have friends who have taught in England and was shocked. I teach reception equivalent here infants ( first two years) are in school from 9 till 1:30 and most of the day is based on Aistear which is structured play. All they really need to know by the end of the year is numbers 1 to 5 and initial letter sounds.

[Ellieboolou27]

Was thinking the same, my dd who is 4 started reception and week 3 has been send home about 20 words to learn (by October) has a daily reading book and a piece of weekly homework! I am still a bit shocked by this.

So much pressure for little ones these days. I remember primary being full of play, field trips, swimming and PE, of course we did spellings, maths etc but nothing like it is now.

[MyWineTime]

It breaks my heart to see the damage this shit is doing to our children and how it can transform thousands of children from curious and enthusiastic learners to stifled, nervous kids, who are constantly being judged against a checklist.

[Dbsparkles]

My son is in year one now and I feel exactly like this. I just wonder what can be done, I've never heard anyone approve of this system yet it persists. I think I'll write to my mp, seems a good a place as any to start.

[Aeroflotgirl]

Ellie don't pressure your little one, go through the words with her a few times a week, read them to her, do her home work for her or ignore it. My ds has started Foundation, 3 weeks ago, no homework, words or book nada. I think our infants school is more child orientated.

[BazilGin]

Reminds me of this m.youtube.com/watch?v=HrxX9TBj2zY#

[BazilGin]

There is something we can do, I will think of a petition, but have even got a chance with May in power? This is madness and really they need to slow down, they are damaging are kids. Dd says she hates school because they are not allowed to play anymore. It breaks my heart

[littleshirleybeans]

It might hearten you to know that there is now a big push on for learning through play!!! I was on a course today, it was really interested and inspirational. There are return days where we all have to report back on what we've implemented.
On a sorry note, I heard a colleague talking about a nursery nearby where the children were learning about Bloom's Taxonomy!!!! (A range and type of higher-order questioning!)

[BazilGin]

Our kids, typing too fast!

[littleshirleybeans]

Interesting
Not interested!
Auto-correct, sorry didn't notice

[BazilGin]

letthekidsbekids.wordpress.com

[arethereanyleftatall]

Yabu.
Both my dds love school (y1 & y3). They are soaking up the learning, loving it. I'm not pushy at all, they want to do it. For them, the quicker they learnt to read themselves, the quicker they could read whenever they wanted. They aren't alone.
I fully accept that 4 is too young for some, but I think you should bear in mind that many children are definitely ready for school at 4 and devour the learning.

[BazilGin]

It looks like someone has already started the good work!
letthekidsbekids.wordpress.com

[Inmyownlittlecorner]

It's giving me the rage & we're only a couple of weeks into term.
DD has gone into year 3 & she has to do 20 mins of reading a night, English once a week (tonight's one was write a character profile for the main character in your reading book), maths once a week, 7 spellings & 2 sentences every night, handwriting practice every night & RE over the weekend.
If I or DH don't sign her reading book 3 times in one half term she gets 20 minutes of thinking time & if she fails to complete any of the home work 3 times in one half term its 20 mins of thinking time.
Today I asked what this would entail & was told she misses 20 mins of lunchtime play & sits in a room with a member of staff filling out a form detailing why the above has not been done.
I suggested that this was a bit petty & maybe homework etc could be completed during this time. I was told no. She's 7 ffs. If the ridiculous amounts of homework aren't completed it's not her fault, it's mine.

[CathFromCooberPedy]

Yanbu!!!!!! I say this often! I don't get why the UK is obsessed with this. Dd1 is in y1 and l have refused to do the holiday homework every term since nursery ffs and l only do the spelling as l don't want Dd1 to fall behind.

We deliberately kept her in a school that requires improvement as it was small and lovely staff and she liked it howevery lots of class wenter to the outstanding primary around the corner. However l find her y1 teacher far too stern and hope she lightens up before l have to mention it to her

[CathFromCooberPedy]

Autocorrect learn to fucking spell

[HeCantBeSerious]

Yanbu!!!!!! I say this often! I don't get why the UK is obsessed with this

Not the whole of the U.K.

[BazilGin]

Arethereantleftatall actually my dd started reading words at preschool at her own accord, so I agree that they do devour knowledge, kids naturally do. But it doesn't mean that she should be made to sit and learn things she simply developmentally does not need at this age.There are numerous studies that prove that starting formal schooling so young is not at all beneficial.

[bangingmyheadoffabrickwall]

If I won the lottery, I would stay at home and remove my children from the education system.

I am a Y1 teacher.