To think year one is too big a jump?

[Midge1978]

Dd has started year one and she and her friends are all really struggling. As well as having homework, spellings and reading to do, they are struggling to understand the work and aren't allowed to ask for help. Yet they are made to lose their playtime if they haven't completed it. Is this normal across the board? The children are stressed and anxious, surely this can't be appropriate for five year olds?!

Not allowed to ask for help?! That's crazy. No, this doesn't sound normal at all tbh. My two didn't find a particularly big jump from reception to year 1. Sounds as though the school is really harsh.

It shouldn't be.

It should be a natural progression in a sensible good school.

Not being allowed to ask for help seems rather odd. There is much less play from Yr1 which takes a bit of getting used to.
This first term can be hard, but maybe ask to speak with the teacher if you are worried.

No it isn't. There should be a period of transition between reception and y1, many schools do this until half term. That way the children move gradually into a ks1 curriculum.

Maybe check with the school about the not being allowed to ask for help thing. The children may have misinterpreted what the teacher said.