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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I haven't been home schooling

26 replies

dancingmonkey · 09/02/2021 18:22

My daughter is only three and attends a morning nursery every day which is part of a school if relevant.

The teachers are lovely but every day I am being sent stuff to work on with my daughter. I work long busy hours at home. My job is a hands on creative one and not a sat at desk one and find it impossible to keep up with teachers tasks. And they alway want us to send photos too.
To be honest though I'm actually not phased by the fact that it's not being done but should I be?

She is great at entertaining herself with her toys and loves drawing.
I wish I could spend more one on one time with her but it I don't work then I won't be earning money.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 09/02/2021 18:24

She's three. They will be sending stuff for you to do with her if you want to!

partyatthepalace · 09/02/2021 18:24

No she’s three, they are bonkers - she is getting quite enough structure with them

Just say lovely, ignore the photo requests and carry on as you are

FoxyTheFox · 09/02/2021 18:25

She's three. Playing, drawing, and chatting with you will do wonders for her development. I'm not doing homeschooling with my three year old but she's still come on so much during the various lockdowns as she's benefited from the extra time at home with me/DH and her siblings, her speech in particular has developed a lot.

ItsNotAlrightButItsOkay · 09/02/2021 18:26

My daughters in her first year of school and we dont complete everything. I have a preschooler and I do nothing with her. So don't worry. Let her play and enjoy herself before she does go to big school.

Coffeeisnecessary · 09/02/2021 18:26

She's 3! You don't need to homeschool her, playing is enough!

Wannabangbang · 09/02/2021 18:33

She's only 3, i really wouldn't worry. Nursery isn't even compulsory, it's just a bonus. Aslong as she has toys & play imaginatively etc there's nothing to obsess over

minniemango · 09/02/2021 18:35

It's optional. Some children won't be attending nursery at the moment and parents will be glad of some activity ideas.

DavidsSchitt · 09/02/2021 18:49

What? She's 3, she doesn't go to school

SnoozyBoozy · 09/02/2021 18:52

So she's going to nursery everyday anyway, but they also want you to do extra work? That's crazy! She's only 3. I would continue exactly as you are!

Original poster
dancingmonkey · 09/02/2021 18:59

@SnoozyBoozy

So she's going to nursery everyday anyway, but they also want you to do extra work? That's crazy! She's only 3. I would continue exactly as you are!
So didn't explain that bit well! She isn't currently going in, but in normal times she is there every morning.
OP posts:
Original poster
dancingmonkey · 09/02/2021 19:00

The nursery is part of a school so its all closed

OP posts:
Moo678 · 09/02/2021 19:04

I was amazed during lockdown when some parents asked for schoolwork for their older children to be set during the holidays. One mum said ‘well if the key workers are getting childcare we should at least be getting work - what else are we supposed to do?’ I was gobsmacked. I assume that the work you are being sent is for crazy people like this. I’m doing the bare minimum with my 11 and 9 yr old - the almost 3 yr old is not doing any ‘schoolwork’

Sorry very long winded way to say YANBU!

MichonnesBBF · 09/02/2021 19:08

Sorry but as a whole school they have to be offering remote learning as a legal requirement, don't worry if you are not doing it, however i would keep communication open with staff, they do still have a duty of care in making sure all is well. The nursery staff are working just as hard as the other class teachers and TA's, Believe me when i say SLT will be making sure of this, they cant have one class of staff expected to do less than the others.

WashableVelvet · 09/02/2021 19:14

I felt guilty last year about sticking with our private nursery instead of signing DC up to the school nursery. But it sounds like I should be glad I did given that your school nursery is closed AND sending work home - worst of both worlds!

Agree with everyone on not doing it if you don’t want to. And just adding that (most) non-school nurseries are still open if you’re wanting childcare.

VickyEadieofThigh · 09/02/2021 19:24

The notion that all 3 year olds need to be sent "work" home is daft

I started school a couple of months before my 5th birthday. Until then, I had no nursery, playgroup or anything of the kind (I started school in 1963!).

I spent my time at home, was taught to read and write a year before I started school so was reading, drawing and painting, simple writing, etc. What each child most needs depends on each child and her circumstances.

ForeverBubblegum · 09/02/2021 19:31

We have a similar set up, DS's at a school nursery that has closed along with the rest of the school. So far we have been doing the homework, but mainly because I find having the structure useful and have nothing else to be doing. To be honest, we haven't been sent anything that DS couldn't already do, or that we don't do anyway (counting games, I-spy, drawing etc). I would bet your already doing lots, just as general parenting, that is equally beneficial so all your really missing out is the faff of documenting it.

Mollymopple · 09/02/2021 19:39

To offer Nursery perspective, some local authorities will continue the funding for children who are not attending IF the Nurseries meet certain criteria such as providing remote learning. Your child is non statutory school age and so the tasks would be optional. However the staff have a duty to monitor all children's welfare outside of school. The easiest way for staff to see this is when you 'check in' with them by providing a photo or update of how you are getting on. In my Nursery we ask parents just to keep some contact with us for this reason. We don't mind if they have done the learning tasks- it can be 'today we went on a bike ride and child enjoyed it'.... As other posters have said it is not the Nursery teachers being over zealous, they are most likely following a whole school policy on what all children should be provided with at home.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 09/02/2021 19:40

Confused what would you be schooling your 3 year old in anyway? They just play and learn as they go.

GalesThisMorning · 09/02/2021 19:44

My almost 5 year old completes one task a week usually. We currently have 35 incomplete tasks on the seesaw app. I am determined not to feel guilty - I need others to join me in this! Please join me in not feeling guilt about failing to homeschool very young children. Anyone. Please Grin

Bananabuddy3 · 09/02/2021 19:49

Don’t worry OP, they’re sending work for the reasons other people said above (because they have to!) I doubt you’ll get any pressure but if you do literally just snap a picture on your phone of your DD doing whatever she’s doing and give them a caption and voila. All is well.
You do what you need to do, don’t worry at all Smile

skeenskeenjellybean · 09/02/2021 19:58

She's 3. You're fine. She sounds a lovely, happy wee toot.

AStudyinPink · 09/02/2021 20:15

No way would we be ‘homeschooling’ a 3 year old!

doryyrod · 09/02/2021 21:20

I'm in the exact same position as you! My DD is also in morning nursery at our local primary school and gets multiple tasks per day from her teachers.

Like you I'm working whilst also looking after a (just turned) one year old.

She has done one or two of the tasks (when I've had a spare 5 minutes to sit with her), but I'm not worried at all. I look at it as previous posters have said - nursery is mandatory, so there's no obligation to complete the work (although it is nice to have if you have the time).

The class also have a live lesson each week, but we've not been able to attend - teachers have been fine about it, which shows it really doesn't matter.

I've spoken to some of the other mums and they're in the same boat. ...You're not alone! Don't worry about it.

doryyrod · 09/02/2021 21:21

I obviously mean optional not mandatory!!!

Nodancingshoes · 09/02/2021 21:52

I believe they have to supply home learning or they will lose their funding. You dont have to do it though- just send some photos of her drawings x

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