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Homework corner

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Original poster

Reception Homework

50 replies

FinneganBeginAgain · 05/02/2022 11:00

Folk with reception age kids. Can I ask what you are expected to complete homework wise. Currently we are receiving 3 homework sheets and a reading book a week. The work sheets just seem to be pushing them through phonics too fast. My end of April son is shattered after school and fit for nothing. My older child didn’t seem to get nearly so much. This is 3 weeks worth of sheets (they’re actually double sided with sentences to copy and a picture to draw on the reverse). Obviously we’ve not done them. I feel like I’m about to be ‘that parent’ at the upcoming parent’s evening but I’m actually really cross about it all! All advice gratefully received 🧐

OP posts:

Clymene · 05/02/2022 11:03

I refused to do any homework with my reception aged children other than read with them. I think that plenty for children of that age. Also if you're working and your children are in after school club until 6pm, there is no time to do them. So they're discriminating against children of working parents.

Throw them in the bin and have a cuddle instead

Orchidflower1 · 05/02/2022 11:03

It will look more though if you don’t keep up with it. Could you do one sheet a week and then read as a compromise?

Original poster

FinneganBeginAgain · 05/02/2022 11:09

It is not possible to keep up with it. My son is too tired to do it. We try and do some when he is up for it but it is just too much.

OP posts:

Clymene · 05/02/2022 11:20

@FinneganBeginAgain

It is not possible to keep up with it. My son is too tired to do it. We try and do some when he is up for it but it is just too much.

Tell the teacher that. That's all you need to say.

Clymene · 05/02/2022 11:23

Reception is about instilling an enthusiasm for school, getting into the habit of all the things the school are about (uniform, behaving in a particular way, being with lots of other children and one adult, routine).

It should be learning through play. Not sodding worksheets

roses2 · 05/02/2022 11:54

Mine had 3 worksheets a week and 3 books a week in Reception last year. If you can I would try on week ends. This age-group are already behind because of covid and they missed out on lot of core phonics. It's harder to catch up as they barely got to start in the first place.

Original poster

FinneganBeginAgain · 05/02/2022 12:10

@roses2

That is a lot of home work roses2. My son only started in September so hasn’t missed anything at all.

OP posts:

LittleBearPad · 05/02/2022 12:12

You could do a bit at weekends and a bit of reading could be done.

JassyRadlett · 05/02/2022 12:14

Mine in Reception had reading only, and they were a cohort who lost nearly half a year of their last year of nursery (for many) and nearly a term of Reception.

The homework kicked up a notch in Year 1 but it’s a maths worksheet a week, three ‘tasks’ from a choosing grid each half term, and reading every night.

Policyschmolicy · 05/02/2022 12:16

There is no way I would be doing that. Even my y1 and y3 children are tired after school, and there is very little evidence that extreme homework levels make any difference. They both have spellings each week, and reading. And I think that’s quite enough!

SleepingStandingUp · 05/02/2022 12:18

I'm reception wed have had one of these sheets, a maths one and a reading book.

They won't push them through phonics too fast, they'll repeat and repeat and repeat phonics.

We did it at weekends and read in the week.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 05/02/2022 12:19

My son is year 3 now and I'm a sp that works full time, so I've always said " we'll do what we can "
I think nowadays they are having to catch up after missing sp much school

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 05/02/2022 12:21

Just tell the teacher exactly what you've said here. That your son is too tired. That's a lot of work for a reception child to be expected to do. You're not 'that parent'. I work FT so my DD was in wrap around school care all through primary school. We didn't get home until after 6. Didn't finish dinner until close to 7. There was just enough time for bath story and bed. There's no way there'd have been time for more schoolwork. DD never fell behind (if I hear that phrase one more time I think I'll scream!).

Sometimes teachers are pushed by parents at the other end of the spectrum. There are those who don't work and want to do extra with their children. And complain if they don't get mountains of homework.

Teachers are often caught between these 2 very different types of families. Just do what suits your family. Let the teacher know the situation. I'm sure they won't mind at all.

Classicblunder · 05/02/2022 12:21

@roses2

My son's in reception, he hasn't missed out on any school because of covid and he was at a private nursery which only closed for the first lockdown

SarahWoodruff · 05/02/2022 12:27

Is it writing out the words or just reading the words on the sheet and practising the sounds? If the latter, surely it's only a few minutes' work per sheet? Admittedly DD just gets 2 books per week but I do maths or writing with her after after-school club every night and she doesn't struggle with tiredness. Personally I think some home reinforcement of learning is a positive.

bellsbuss · 05/02/2022 12:30

Ours is 5 lots of Numbots, 5 lots of reading , 5 lots of phonics and 1 set piece of homework a week. We get emails if it's not all completed.

RussianSpy101 · 05/02/2022 12:30

Surely one worksheet a week is the equivalent of what you’d be doing at home with your child any? Reading every night aswell. I hardly think 1 double sided sheet and 1 book is excessive. I don’t see why you’re letting this build up.

PatchworkElmer · 05/02/2022 12:32

2 reading books here, and a homework project every half term.

SleepingStandingUp · 05/02/2022 12:33

@bellsbuss

Ours is 5 lots of Numbots, 5 lots of reading , 5 lots of phonics and 1 set piece of homework a week. We get emails if it's not all completed.

So basically Mon - Fri 3 pieces of homework abd then a bigger piece for the weekend? That's ridiculous at non compulsory school age

Original poster

FinneganBeginAgain · 05/02/2022 13:34

It’s 3 double sided sheets and a book per week. The other side is writing out a whole sentence and then drawing an accompanying picture. It does not feel supportive of his learning. Making him do it is a battle and it seems far too much when he has only been in school for a term and a half.

OP posts:

SmolCat · 05/02/2022 13:53

Some schools decide to cater for the parents who want a lot by giving out blanket amounts of homework. The teacher though will have no problem with you ignoring it. Focus on play and a bit of reading and encouraging them to love learning.

DogsAndGin · 20/02/2022 20:06

I’m a primary school teacher and we all very much have the attitude of ‘wellbeing comes first’. I’m shocked at this much hw, my understanding is that hw is not compulsory for such young children, and is optional.

In fact, I’ve had to gently tell some parents that rest and play are more important at home than forcing their tired kids to do more work (which ends up in tears before bedtime for mum and kids, which I then have to mediate!)

Please understand that a school really cannot win. Some parents will complain if they’re given hw and some will complain that their kids aren’t being pushed, enough. So, your DC’s teacher will not be at all angry at you for not doing hw, (would they even notice if it wasn’t returned?!) but please be kind to the teacher - they’re only following instructions.

sherbsy · 12/03/2022 15:07

Honestly, after the last 2 years, I'd be grateful they're giving something structured and regular, provided they're also giving feedback and not expecting the parents to do everything.

I know PLENTY of schools that did nothing from March 2020 until June(!) and then offered piles of unstructured photocopies. Parents were expected to do everything.

I realise it's a lot but be careful what you wish for!

Parker231 · 19/11/2022 19:25

Homework in primary is optional. DT’s went to after school club and we didn’t get home until nearly 7. They had something to eat, a shower and some down time in front of the TV before bed. Most days we didn’t have time to read to them.
Your school is being ridiculous with their expectations of Reception age group.

machanicalmovement · 19/11/2022 19:38

It's optional for early years, try for one a week but if it's too much don't do it.

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