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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Homework for 5yr olds in yr1

11 replies

Thehusbandsatcricketagain · 23/06/2011 20:07

I would like to know is there anyone else out there that struggles with huge quantities of homework for their 5 yr old 5-7 nights a week.We do & my DS is low on the AS with anger issues,I am struggling with it & tried to speak to the teacher this week about how he refuses & I will not compromise family life when he is tired & wants to switch off from school,it takes me on some days 15/20 mins to get him from the playground into school as he does not want to leave me.Anyway teacher has said if he does not do it then he gives up his "happy half hour" on a friday & I think this will be counter productive,head does not really act on anything so am at a loss as how to proceed.I want him to enjoy learning but as we are in a tiny village school where classes are combined he will have the same teacher in yr2 as well.
Anyone else had similar problems ?

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sunnyday123 · 23/06/2011 20:17

how much homework does he get?

Original poster

Thehusbandsatcricketagain · 23/06/2011 20:24

1 lot of maths,1 lot of french & words that need remebering & writing 5 nights a week along with a sentence for each word.This may not sound a lot to some but to my ds it is huge & he gets really angry about it.

OP posts:

elphabadefiesgravity · 23/06/2011 20:26

My two go to an academic private school and ds is in Year 2. he just gets one worksheet once a week on a Thursday to be handed in on a Monday plus reading and spellings.

Even that is too much at times.

What your ds is getting sounds ridiculous and counter productive and to be honest I would refuse to do it.

sunnyday123 · 23/06/2011 20:29

that does sound a lot! Surely if he does some of it the teacher would accept that? Other kids must be feeling the same i would have thought. Maybe speak to other parents. French at age 5? wow thats impressive but hard work at his age - maybe after a break doing none he will get back into it? Sorry not had much experience as dd in reception but didnt want to leave post unanswered - may need to speak to the head if teacher insisting on taking happy half hour away as that seems very unfair and i agree, will only make him more angry.

good luck

Chrysanthemum5 · 23/06/2011 20:49

That sounds a huge amount. DS is at a good school and get 2 books a week 1 maths sheet and for the last few weeks he's had to write up to 4 sentences a week. To me that's more than enough he is 6. I would talk to the school and ask for the justification for that amount.

pantaloons · 23/06/2011 20:53

My ds is in yr1, he comes home with reading and in the last few weeks 12 spellings, to get him used to the work they have in yr2.

I think it's plenty to be honest and it sounds like your ds has far to much.

SherbetDibDab · 23/06/2011 20:54

I can't really offer any advice but I do think that is an inappropriate amount of homework. Way too much.

IndigoBell · 23/06/2011 21:04

Is he one the SEN register? Sounds like he should be.

If he is on the SEN register they can make any reasonable accommodation for him - so even if it is a school policy for kids to loose happy time if they don't do their hw, it would be reasonable (and sensible) for them to excuse him from his hw.

So, I would make an appt to see the SENCO. Tell her that your DS can't do his hw, and make sure that it's agreed that he doesn't get punished for that....

pointythings · 23/06/2011 21:54

DD2 is 8 (yr3) and has one piece of English homework (currently grammar but can be story writing etc) and one maths worksheet a week.

DD1 is 10 (Yr5) and has 1 piece of maths, some science revision, English homework (usually short), some reading plus book review type stuff and sometimes art.

OP, Your DS is getting a ridiculous amount of homework for 5 years old. I'd throw my toys out of the pram big time write down my concerns, send to the HT, contact the governors and generally make a fuss.

BTW there is no research evidence that suggests homework in primary school improves academic achievement. None.

MerylStrop · 23/06/2011 22:01

I think your son's teacher is being inflexible to the point of unkind. You need to rouse the Head and or a friendly governor.

I would speak to the teacher again in rather firmer terms. Tell her YOU don't agree with the homework and will not be allowing him to do it unless it is scaled back to a more realistic amount.

FWIW DS has been set one task per week since Xmas. Sometimes we do it, more often we don't. Not an issue at all in our school

MumblingRagDoll · 23/06/2011 22:05

It's too much...my DD is in year 2 at a private prep and she get's around that amount...she is almost 7 and we struggle! But her teacher is very good and told me not to push her or makeher unhappy about it....but to let herdo what she wants.

I would speak again and let the teacher know that losing his happy half hour for lack of HW is nt good enough.

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