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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

6 and 7 year olds being kep in at lunch time for forgetting homework

575 replies

DaanSaaf · 08/05/2018 20:55

Year 2 ds just told me they have to stay in at lunch time and do extra work if they haven't brought their homework in.

Aibu to think that's a bit harsh at their age?

OP posts:

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 10:47

@Thisisthefirststep

I'm afraid when you put your child in school, yes they're in charge.

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/05/2018 10:58

Do you really think that a child kept in at playtime and lunchtime doesn't eat

Actually yes. I talked to the TA and she confirmed he wasn't allowed to eat until he finished the homework. The homework that he couldn't do because he couldn't read or write.

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 11:15

@oliversmumsarmy

But surely he was given time afterwards to eat, pop to the loo?

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 11:19

ThisIsTheFirstStep

No, but you should accept the policies of the institution you choose, provided they aren't illegal. If you can't accept them, you have the option of trying to change them, but don't just ignore them and teach your child to do the same. That's where the line is for me.

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/05/2018 11:25

What do you mean afterwards?

famousfour · 12/05/2018 11:26

I suppose the difficulty is that the school caters for many children and teaches to a system. If everyone picks and chooses which bits they choose to subscribe to and which they don't it can't work. So unless there is a deep moral objection to something then I think people just need to tow the line. That said if your child is doing well without homework it probably doesn't make much difference. But if everyone makes that choice - then what?

famousfour · 12/05/2018 11:28

FWIW I don't think teaching your child to critically think about things is mutually exclusive with also understanding that sometimes you might choose nonetheless to commit to something where you don't agree completely with all aspects of it because of the overall good. Bit of a straw man to suggest otherwise IMO.

famousfour · 12/05/2018 11:30

Which is to say I don't think the two options are to blindly follow authority or to do as you please...

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 11:31

@oliver

I never keep them the whole of lunch, I always make sure they have 10 minutes to at least go for a wee. I don't mind them eating their lunch in the class.

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/05/2018 11:39

I suppose the difficulty is that the school caters for many children and teaches to a system. If everyone picks and chooses which bits they choose to subscribe to and which they don't it can't work

What about those that cant work to the curriculum.

The talk on here is all 6/7 year olds should do there homework. But DD and ds and a lot of dc in their class could not read at that age.

No help after year 1. So most just get left behind then it seems a surprise that children are leaving school illiterate or just dissaffected

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/05/2018 11:40

I never keep them the whole of lunch, I always make sure they have 10 minutes to at least go for a wee. I don't mind them eating their lunch in the class

That is you other teachers don't

PinkBassoon · 12/05/2018 11:42

Linzey - do you have children of your own?
So, you keep young children in doing their homework during their lunch break, when they've already spent a whole morning working / listening and will be expected to work all afternoon? Just 10 minutes break, to go to the toilet?!

I recommend taking a look at 'Keeping Early Years Unique' on Facebook.

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 11:43

@Oliver

Harsh in that case. I mean when was he supposed to go to the toilet?

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 11:46

@PinkBasson

They are never kept in for both breaks, as I said I make sure they have time to go to the loo and eat. What's the problem?

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/05/2018 11:49

I am sure he was allowed the toilet but as he hadn't eaten or drunk anything he probably didn't go.

Curiousaboutchoices · 12/05/2018 11:50

It’s outrageous. At that age homework is done because parents enforce it not because it is child led. We object to homework and wrote to the school to say it would not be done and why. There is no evidence to suggest it adds to learning at this age at all and almost everyone we know has weekly battles about it such that it ends up hindering learning rather than assisting in it. Some of the tasks are, frankly, mindless as well - draw a Roman, put these words in some sentences, rote learn some spellings blahhhhhhhh. Some of the tasks our kids are given in principle need reading twice to establish what to do - so not really something a child can do alone which seems to defeat the purpose. The tasks which have convoluted instructions to make a game of your choice (thanks) out of paper and card and sticking fucking back plastic which I personally don’t keep at home really get my goat. I just don’t think they add anything to learning and no one has ever been able to show me any evidence to the contrary.

Sad thing is that schools have to tick the box becausd of silly ofsted requirements so they are between a rock and a hard place.

Oliversmumsarmy · 12/05/2018 11:50

Also he was on school dinners, which I was paying for. So how could he eat

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 11:53

@Oliver

I always say to children who are on school dinners go have your dinner, go to the loo then back here to do the work, make sure you are quick.

As I've said harsh if they don't.

PinkBassoon · 12/05/2018 11:53

They are 6/7 years old Linzey - they need time to play and be children.
That is the problem.

Do you have children of your own?

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 11:54

@pinkbassoon

No.

Linzeyhun · 12/05/2018 11:55

@pinkbassoon

They are given time to play and be children providing the work is done to a satisfactory level.

Pengggwn · 12/05/2018 12:02

Some of the tasks are, frankly, mindless as well - draw a Roman, put these words in some sentences, rote learn some spellings blahhhhhhhh.

What is mindless about learning about history, grammar, vocabulary and spelling?

PinkBassoon · 12/05/2018 12:02

Oh ok.
Before I had children, I did send homework home. Since having children, I have realised that there are far more important things - such as playing, socialising and being outdoors.

A 6 / 7 year old, who has been sitting and listening to you all morning deserves a break - time to play outside, run around with friends and be a child. It is your duty to ensure young children get this play time that is also essential to their development.

Homework not completed by little children, will be through no fault of their own. At that age, parents organise their timetable of activities etc and the child will not be thinking about getting homework done at all. Therefore, you are punishing a child because their parent hasn't organised them to do it. Absolutely wrong imo.

Please look at 'keeping early years unique'.

MrsSnootyPants2018 · 12/05/2018 12:03

It's a good way to learn about responsibility

PinkBassoon · 12/05/2018 12:10

It's a good way to learn about responsibility

At an appropriate age - not 6/7.
Also, all children are different. Dc1 was mature and organised from early on. Dc2 wasn't until y4/5. He also desperately needed 'down time'. I would have been very angry if he had ever been denied his breaks to do homework.

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