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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

How much, if any, holiday homework do your DCs get?

57 replies

Growlithe · 08/07/2013 22:53

Following on from another thread, I've only just realised that not every school gives out holiday homework.

DD has been getting it since Y2 to Y3. This year, Y4 to Y5, it seems to have stepped up a gear.

Other MNetters have pointed out that their DCs don't get any at all.

Do yours, just out of interest?

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fuzzpig · 09/07/2013 10:51

None in summer so far but then my eldest is only in yr1 so only had one summer holiday. They have had homework during term time that is usually fortnightly so some of that has fallen over half term, stuff like making a poster etc.

I will try to encourage DD to still read to me a little each day and choose her own books for the Summer Reading Challenge. I work in a library so it's easy to find reading books that are the right level and topic. I know there is often a regression over summer with reading so it would be great to avoid that. Not too worried about writing as she does that most nights in bed, though her report did suggest a few things to work on. We have a few workbook type things but they are just on the shelf for her to take at any time if she fancies it (not very often, tends to go through phases).

Also have a few projects in mind related to topic work she's been doing - she has become really enthusiastic especially about art so we are meeting my mum in London for a gallery day and may do a few crafty bits based on that, but it's really because there's no time to do it during term time. Needless to say it won't be compulsory! :o She will be spending most of her time running around outside and playing with friends/family, as it should be.

I'm not really bothered if the school give some HW for summer as judging by previous pieces of work it'd be pretty low key and quite enjoyable too.

Periwinkle007 · 09/07/2013 10:52

well we aren't at that stage yet but I think from yr2ish they are often set a mini project to do in half term or easter holidays. don't think anything in the summer though, don't remember people mentioning it.

reading obviously.

I am going to start my kids doing a scrap book of their summer though, not as homework although it will keep them practicing writing a little bit, but it will do show and tell in september which is good, they can then look back on what they did over the summer too. They like doing things like that though, sticking leaflets and pictures in.

Don't think they would like to do maths particularly but they have been known to ask to before if the weather is rubbish.

Periwinkle007 · 09/07/2013 10:54

to me if they do have holiday homework it should be a mini project/scrapbook type thing but on an open topic so that if people are going away or doing something invariably more exciting than the topic the school pick then they can do it about that or the child can choose a topic to do.

LaRegina · 09/07/2013 10:55

My DC (primary and infant) have been given holiday homework before - which I have allowed them to 'forget' to do because I think a holiday is a holiday. I wouldn't take leave from work to sit there doing - well, work, so why should young children?

mummytime · 09/07/2013 11:02

None.

The most is indications of coursework that needs to be completed or past papers done at GCSE/A'level.

fuzzpig · 09/07/2013 11:06

I like the 'open' type HW too. Much of what DD has had was of this type -eg a few weeks ago she had to find a few facts on a specific artist. So you can just write a few sentences on a bit of paper, or you can present it in any way you want, illustrate it, handwritten or typed etc, make it as big or small as you want. She really enjoys it, I think perhaps because she has a lot of choice herself rather than getting told exactly what to do. It must be much more interesting for the teacher looking at them too :o

Dixiefish · 09/07/2013 11:15

They didn't get any last year (yr 3) so hoping they won't get any this year either. I did do about 10 minutes' maths revision with them 2 or 3 times a week (except when we were actually away) and I think that did help them when they were back in September so I'm planning to do that again this time.
It's those project/diary/journal type homeworks I don't like because you have them hanging over you the entire time!

coppertop · 09/07/2013 11:19

None at all and they never have.

One's in Yr 8 and two are in primary school.

Bonsoir · 09/07/2013 11:56

None, thank goodness - French primary school. I like my DD to do lots of learning in the long summer holidays (nearly 10 weeks), but I don't want school telling me what to do - I have my own excellent ideas .

Original poster

Growlithe · 09/07/2013 12:52

Right, so this is what she got. 21 maths questions - problem type 'show your workings'. English was a passage from a book and 10 comprehension questions on it.

Also it says practice times tables for 10 mins a day - can't really see that happening tbh.

They are encouraged to do the library summer reading challenge, but this isn't mentioned in the pack.

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noramum · 09/07/2013 12:58

DD gets a small project over the half-terms in preparation for the next topic. Nothing big, often a craft thing or to do a bit of research, easy done in 1/2 day.

Summer - they recommend a diary or a research project. They also propose taking part of the library reading challenge. Not a big deal as the library is DD's second home.

This year DD has been asked to practice numbers so she will be in charge of money when shopping. Luckily DD loves her workbooks.

Periwinkle007 · 09/07/2013 12:58

I have no idea how long a maths question would take to do.

the English doesn't sound bad, is that a normal homework amount for English? It sounds like something they would do in 1 lesson.

timestables I would just recite a few when walking along or in the bath or something. She probably already knows some of them and I can't see any child doing them every day

sittinginthesun · 09/07/2013 13:04

None here, but we always do the summer reading challenge.

Original poster

Growlithe · 09/07/2013 13:10

The maths looks like it will take about 2 hours, now I've had a proper look. I don't think I'm going to encourage her to do that in one sitting though, maybe half hour chunks.

The english questions are quite meaty e.g. 'What is the genre of this book?'. 'What genre's do you prefer and why?'. 'Did you enjoy the passage? Why/why not'. I suppose you can put as much or as little detail into these answers as you like though.

I did notice DD had written on the top of each sheet 'Do as much as you can'. So perhaps parents have already had a moan?

OP posts:

Periwinkle007 · 09/07/2013 13:17

ah well I would say if it says 'do as much as you can' then really they are giving enough to cover any children who LOVE doing school work but are hoping that all children will at least do a bit of it.

I would probably break it down like you say and do it in a few sittings. perhaps let her choose when she would like to do it so you can say 'this week we have x y and z on these days and at some point we need to fit in doing a bit of your homework, when would you like to do half an hour of it? then she is in control of when she does it but she knows she has to at least do a bit.

just make sure you write something like 'we didn't have a chance to do anymore than this' if she doesn't do it all so they can see the difference between didn't attempt it due to time/other commitments and couldn't do it as in it was too hard.

if you get a few days of rubbish weather I would encourage it then.

Original poster

Growlithe · 09/07/2013 13:23

DD1 does seem to enjoy homework. It's when DD2 gets to that age I worry about because she doesn't.

OP posts:

Mominatrix · 09/07/2013 13:44

DS at a very selective London prep attached to one of the big name senior schools - no holiday homework, including summer holidays.

sparkle12mar08 · 09/07/2013 14:16

Ours get none, and it too is an outstanding primary feeding to ex grammar, single sex schools.

If she enjoys it then I'd be tempted to get her to do as much as possible in a single siiting the next time the weather is bad. Just get it out of the way. Otherwise don't push her and let her do it when she wants, if she wants.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 09/07/2013 14:24

I hope DS doesn't get any. He is in reception so hopefully not. We will keep up the reading though, and he will want to do some maths anyway.

My middle school used to set absolutely tons of homework, during the week, at weekends and over holidays. I can remember my Mum complaining about it several times - especially in view of the fact that a large amount of it used to go unmarked.

iseenodust · 09/07/2013 15:19

DS in yr4 last summer was asked to keep a journal and there would be a prize for the best. Mainly he stuck in photos/leaflets/tickets. Come autumn everyone got a bag of Haribos for a good effort. That was the first time he's had summer holiday homework. I'm not in favour.

Bonsoir · 09/07/2013 15:24

Mominatrix - "DS at a very selective London prep attached to one of the big name senior schools - no holiday homework, including summer holidays."

I think that expensive and desirable selective schools think that parents who have invested the effort and time involved in getting their children into the school will probably ensure that the holidays are enriching!

exoticfruits · 09/07/2013 15:25

You would hope that it would be none! It is a holiday.

Ragwort · 09/07/2013 15:29

None, but I wish they did - plenty of time to do a bit of school related work plus have a nice 'holiday'.

For all those who say 'it is a holiday' - do you get a six week break from paid employment - and/or cooking/washing/cleaning etc etc .

I used to encourage DS to do those library reading schemes at least that was something constructive to do.

musicalfamily · 09/07/2013 15:37

None (reception, Y2 and Y3).

fuzzpig · 09/07/2013 16:55

I am glad to see so many mentions of the summer reading challenge. Launch day is next Saturday here, I'm going in despite it being my day off! :o Not sure DD will be too pleased with the Creepy House theme though.

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