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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

Does anyone else's primary school not do compulsory homework, even reading.

42 replies

nappyaddict · 19/03/2013 09:31

DS' school doesn't and mostly I am pleased about this. However I am a bit concerned about reading. I read to him at home but as he is no where near free reading (only stage 1 Biff, Chip, Kipper books) he can't read any of the books we have to me. I would like him to read most nights but because the school don't send books home he doesn't do any reading of his own at home. He is in year 2. He didn't have books sent home in reception, he had a book sent home once a week in year 1 and none since the start of year 2. I mentioned it to the teacher back in October and she said they don't send books home til they understand the comprehension of it but surely he should have had something by now. At first I didn't mind because it was a battle getting him to read those god awful boring books anyway but now I'm thinking perhaps I should start getting a bit concerned?

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Cat98 · 19/03/2013 09:33

Mine - though he does get reading books every wkend and a reading record to fill in, though I'm sure it's not compulsory.

stargirl1701 · 19/03/2013 09:33

He is in Year 2 and reading Stage 1 of ORT? Is that Stage 1 with no words or Stage 1+? Is it Floppy's Phonics or the original Look and Say books?

I am a teacher. If that is correct, I would be very concerned.

Cat98 · 19/03/2013 09:34

Sorry just read your post properly and saw he's in year 2 - I think I would expect a bit more by then, though I know ds's school doesn't give much (some parents want more).

Cat98 · 19/03/2013 09:35

Have you had a parents meeting about his reading progress?

seeker · 19/03/2013 09:35

I would be very concerned indeed at no reading books. I don't think I've ever heard of a primary school that doesn't send reading books home. Being me,I would be making a fuss with the Head, the governors...........

Can you establish daily reading yourself if the school won't? What about getting him to read his baby picture books to you- my ds loved doing this.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 19/03/2013 09:40

I have asked his round some of his friend's parents today and they are having books sent home (although not being changed very often) so I can't understand why DS isn't.

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seeker · 19/03/2013 09:44

Hmmm. Ring now and make an appointment to talk to his teacher. Urgently.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 19/03/2013 10:06

He's on the Biff, Chip & Kipper Classic Stories. Not the wordless ones but the first words ones.

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PostmanPatsBlackandWhiteCat · 19/03/2013 10:11

I think I would make an appointment to see his teacher and explain to the teacher your concerns about his reading.
I agree with Seeker I would be making a fuss to the Head Teacher and The governors wanting to know why no reading books were being sent home.
Do any of the other parents have concerns about the lack. of reading books being sent home. Maybe if a group of parents went to the head or the governors things would change.
My son is in reception and brings home a reading book every day.

Beehatch · 19/03/2013 10:13

That would ring alarm bells with me I'm afraid, especially for Y2. Are they at least teaching him phonics? If the school is not being proactive about books could you buy in some phonics readers? The Book People do some great deals on bundles - look for the Songbirds series. Or even the library will be able to produce some phonics early readers surely?

Original poster

nappyaddict · 19/03/2013 10:56

I did discuss it with his teacher back in October at parent's evening when I asked about reading and spellings. She said they don't send spellings home to learn because they don't find it very productive and the children learn spellings better in daily phonics lessons. She said they didn't send books home until the child understands the comprehension of the book which they do in guided reading groups once a week. I asked how often they are heard reading at school and she said they don't do 1:1 reading in school because they find the guided reading group once a week better.

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Beehatch · 19/03/2013 11:04

It really isn't good enough. He needs to do 1 to 1 reading on a regular basis to develop his own skills. For many children this is done at home. Guided reading develops other skills like interpretation and comprehension, but I think is bugger all use in actually learning to read - especially as your DD is still in the very early stages. How can he develop his own voice while reading in a group of 6 or so?

If the school won't supply books then you will have to, with some urgency. How is his written work coming on - can he even read that back? I would be speaking to the head I think.

Beehatch · 19/03/2013 11:05

Sorry, meant DS of course

Original poster

nappyaddict · 19/03/2013 11:32

I have reserved some from the library, so hopefully we will get some soon.

I can't understand why this teacher hasn't sent him any home when his Y1 teacher obviously thought he was ready.

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seeker · 19/03/2013 11:36

The teacher is correct about spellings, according to current thinking. However, she is not correct about reading. I remember ds's teacher explaining it by saying that it's like learning to drive- guided reading is like a driving lesson, and reading at home is like practicing what you've learned driving round with your dad sitting next to you. One doesn't work without the other.

2madboys · 19/03/2013 11:48

When DS was in reception he was getting sent books home, but we also ordered a couple of sets of Biff, Chip, etc from the book people, all very cheap. The school should be doing more, but after 7 years in the system we've learnt that sometimes you have to fill in the gaps yourself

noramum · 19/03/2013 12:14

We don't get spelling home, which I think it correct nowadays, we get one piece of homework which is not compulsory but DD loves doing it and a worksheet for maths, again not compulsory, but we as parents think necessary, even if just to keep track what DD is doing in school.

The idea not to send books home it nonsense. My DD was able to comprehend books read to her when she was 2-3. She got books home after 3 weeks in school and is on Turquoise now in Y1.

I would be very concerned if my child wasn't able to read after 2 1/2 years at school. What on earth are they doing in guided reading and phonics lessons?

Bakingtins · 19/03/2013 12:22

We have been told the main thing they want us to do as homework is 10-15 mins reading a day. We get a book from school twice a week and since they usually only take a couple of sessions to read we choose something from the library or his own books to read on the other nights. We also have suggested homework for the term related to their topic - usually 10 suggestions, but they are very relaxed about how much of that gets done. We choose to do one piece at a weekend and it normally takes less than half an hour.
I'd be really concerned both by his lack of progress and by the lack of support at school.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 19/03/2013 12:25

I would be concerned because from my experience the time children get for 1:1 reading in class can be very low due to the staff, child ratio.

At home, most of us can find the time each night to read with our children and I think that counts for a lot when learning to read. It also fosters good reading habits.

My dses are older now but they still read every night, just to themselves.

stargirl1701 · 19/03/2013 12:27

A child reading at Stage 1+ after 2 and half years of school is a major concern. You need to find out why he is on books that are written for 4/5 year olds.

takeaway2 · 19/03/2013 12:29

my DS is 5 and in reception. He's got a book home almost every day (of the songbird whatever sort), and a library book (like room on a broom type) every week.

They read in school everyday (or almost!) and they do that either with the teacher, the reading buddy (an older child), or a parent helper. Plus he reads at home before bed.

He's on Level 5.

takeaway2 · 19/03/2013 12:31

this is the link to the oxford reading chart. www.oxfordreadingtree.com/chart/

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 19/03/2013 12:41

You really need to speak to teachers and find out what is going on. That's reception level reading he should have either made far more progress or been put on some kind of plan to help him which you should be informed of. Do not waste any time speak ASAP!!

KindleMum · 19/03/2013 13:01

This would bother me enormously. How can a school not be teaching reading to a Yr 2 child? It sounds like some sort of catch 22 situation which is likely to result in your child ending up further and further behind. If they're saying he can't understand the stories read in class, then surely he should be either scheduled for some sort of SEN assessment ( I don't know the terminology, sorry) or be given some extra time reading. A group session once a week is clearly not going to be enough.

FWIW, my DS is in Reception and is expected to do 2 Biff, Chip and Kipper books at home each week. He's on level 7. They have to be signed off in the reading diary by Mon and Thurs each week for changing but if you do them daily, then school changes them daily. They re-read the book to a TA to prove they really have done it, then the book is changed. They also do reading daily in class, 1 to 1 and group.

You can usually get Biff, Chip and Kipper, Songbirds, Project x and other reading schemes very cheaply from the book people online. If the school is taking so little interest, you might need to do this.

Are you reading to him at home? Do you think he has problems understanding stories?

Original poster

nappyaddict · 19/03/2013 13:06

DS does have some learning difficulties so I'm not expecting him to be on level 7 or anything like that. He brought home a book called Floppy Did This in year 1 which he could read at the time. I just found it as a free e-book on Oxford Owl and he couldn't read it. He sounded out all the letters but didn't seem to get the concept of reading the words.

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