Is this because of OFSTED? Level of homework given to reception

[alreethoneyhonhun]

DD has been at school (in Reception) just over a month now. She loves it thank goodness but must say I'm surprised at the amount of work she brings home...

At the start of the week, we receive a school week plan which tells us what she will be learning in class including phonetics, counting, stories from the bible, as well as themes such as halloween amongst other activities listed on sheet. We also get a homework sheet with sums and letters that she needs to hand in the following week. PLUS midweek, we receive a bookpack with 2/3 books to read and sign off each week.

As I said she is enjoying and I'm very happy that school is encouraging reading and learning but I wanted to know what other MNers' experiences of homework and expected parental support is at primary level, particularly Reception? Is this about right at other schools?

I'm sure when I was at school we didn't have homework until much later!

Thanks for your replies.

DD is in year one and is getting less homework than some of yours are getting in reception. In reception last year she had 3 books a week plus sometimes comprehension questions at the weekend.

Now in year one she gets weekly spellings, 3 books a week, a maths sheet and every two weeks she gets a comprehension sheet with her book at the weekend.

Sounds like a lot to me. DS1 got max 1-2 books a week in reception, nothing else. And a phonics sheet once a week after Christmas.
Now in Y1, he gets 3 books (his choice) from his class and a short list of spellings from Y2 phonics, with some sentences to write. So still way less than your reception DC.

Pancakeflipper I like the sound of your school too - it sounds quite similar in approach to dd's (also an 'outstanding' one).

Dd started in Reception in September, and so far there is no homework, but they bring a book home once a week. That's about it!

Like the sound of a school week plan/newsletter though.

I think DS gets a lot of home work but only because I have to ensure it gets done.
We have two reading books a week ort level 2 which I think are quite hard for a 4 year old; 2 letters to practice and either sentences or maths at weekend.

That said the do only 2 phonics a weeks but today he was doing sums like 7 + 3 and 4+ 4. I am really confused and can't get a grip on the expectations - it always seems to ' precious' to be discussing this in real life