Is home schooling a Yr2 child and submitting their work compulsory?

[MontyBowJangles]

I have a friend who has been tying herself up in knots with trying to complete all the work set by her child's school since lockdown. She's on her own most of the time and works 30+ hours a week from home too.

It's a standard state primary in England, child in Yr2. School are setting work that they are saying has to be submitted daily!!

Totally different to my children's primary schools which have said "here's some stuff, do it if you want to and like to, but no pressure. Your mental health and that of your children is paramount".

I can't seem to find a link to government guidance that clearly says it's not compulsory?? But have read the curriculum isn't being taught right now... Can anyone help with links to facts please? I think she needs to tell the school to back off personally...

Our school is the same as yours - no submission criteria, it's up to us. This week they have started some videos and they said they will get more involved in marking work if we need it.

Our school is a very results driven competitive school and they are being very laid back about it.

No, it's not compulsory. Your friend is not paid to be a full time teacher. What if she was ill as well or caring for someone who was?

She should just tell them to back off and what they ask is unrealistic. As long as her DC is doing something constructive at some point not just watching TV all day, then they'll be fine.

Cooking, reading, art or sport can all be educational. Add in gardening, some computer games, board games etc. Plenty of educational stuff a Year 2 child can do that isn't what the school set.

Nothing compulsory here. DS's teacher sends a weekly timetable of work but we don't have to do it.

It’s not compulsory that they complete the work set.

It is compulsory that the school “provide an education” though - hence the setting of work.

My advice, as a Y2 teacher, is to do what you can but if time is tight focus on reading, basic maths (counting up and down, counting in 2s 5s 10s 3s, practising the four operations) and some kind of writing every so often.

That should keep the basics on the boil so that they’ve not gone backwards too much when they get back to school.

No way to submit work for my Yr2 (oryr4). They send answers for the Maths worksheets.

As of this week, the Yr2 teachers are teaching Yr1 bubbles at my DCs school, so wouldn't have time for daily work...

When this started my friend's daughter 's school told them they expected the parents to homeschool the children everyday 9-3. My friend was quite worried as she has a toddler who would needs attention. I think there was a bit of a backlash and they have eased their expectations.

Our school have been sending work through everyday but it has been on a do what you can basis. They accept that as parents we have other things going on and don't expect us to dedicate everyday 9-3 to homeschooling.

It's a good thing for teachers that parents can't teach their dcs a full timetable 9 to 3 every day, while also working, or school teachers would become rather redundant!

Teachers should realise that teaching is a skilled profession that takes time and training to do effectively, and parents cannot substitute for them nor should be expected to.

Thanks for all your replies! Very reassuring.

My friend does loads with her children; daily bike rides, baking, crafts, reading etc as well as loads of the set school work. I think she puts way too much pressure on herself, but she says she feels guilty if she doesn't do as the school say and submit work daily

Our school expects a lot! We have several pieces of work that are sent through their online platform daily that have to be sent it weekly. They pick random 3/4 random pieces throughout the week so you can’t even just do the pieces they want as chances are they will ask for something else.
If we don’t do it we get many emails asking where the work is and if they don’t get a response they phone home.
I have unfortunately already had words with one teacher over this as I’m still working and my child needs someone to sit with them for most of the work, which is just undoable for 9-3 everyday!!!
Doesn’t surprise me that our school are strict in regards to homeschooling as they put an huge amount of pressure on kids and are overall a very strict school.

Our school have been rubbish. They send work but no ones checking of it’s actually being done. My son lost motivation weeks ago. I spent a small fortune non workbooks from Amazon.