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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 homework is your reception child getting?

30 replies

SouthernComforts · 30/09/2014 09:57

I'm starting to dread opening the reading bag of doom everyday!

Dd is getting 4/5 worksheets per week (2 x A4 colouring, 1 number sheet, 1 word sheet) plus reading book, a page of key words, specific letter sounds and requests for 'do something amazing with your child and get them to write/draw about it here'.

Oh and a library book.

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Doublethecuddles · 30/09/2014 10:05

That seems excessive for such a small child. It's annoys me that teachers do not recognise that activities you do at home with children eg. riding a bike, learning to swim, cooking, going for a walk looking at things, and playing with other children!
We live in Scotland and don't do reception, but in P1 we had reading and letter formation. It's a bit of a cheek IMO asking you to ' do something amazing'. My DC wouldn't think going for a walk, or a cycle run amazing and expect some wonderful planned activity every weekend!

Sirzy · 30/09/2014 10:05

Non yet. Will only be reading and one small optional task a week when it starts

Original poster

SouthernComforts · 30/09/2014 10:11

It's starting to annoy me!

Yesterday dd came home with 2 work sheets and a new book, new key words and letter sounds to learn.

At 4.30 she was sobbing to go to bed she was so tired.

OP posts:

financialwizard · 30/09/2014 10:15

My 4 year old is getting the same. She has more homework than my 13 year old.

financialwizard · 30/09/2014 10:15

My 4 year old is getting the same. She has more homework than my 13 year old.

redskybynight · 30/09/2014 10:26

My DC were expected to read as frequently as they could, and had one fairly simple and very optional task each week (which ranged from something like - go and find some autumn leaves and make a collage to can you write some sentences about what you did this weekend).

Your amount of homework sounds way too much.

loudarts · 30/09/2014 10:29

That is far to much. Dd is in year 1 now but last year she had reading and sight words. That was it. This year she has reading and 1 piece of homework for the weekend (either some form of maths or writing)

AuntieStella · 30/09/2014 10:32

When mine were in reception, all they had was 10 minutes reading a night and the teachers said upfront that they didn't mind if you skipped it sometimes if your DC was busy or just too tired. Oh, and the occasional random task in support of a project (maybe once or twice a term, sometimes over half terms) along the lines of "we're going to be studying castles, can you find some pictures or draw one, or bring in a book or toy, or describe a visit".

Fishstix · 30/09/2014 10:34

A book to read and a letter sheet to practice writing and colour every night. More than my y5 child gets. But if we can't manage it one night I just let the teacher know.

lynniep · 30/09/2014 10:36

blimey. none. he has a couple of books which I've been reading to him. nothing else.

SuiGeneris · 30/09/2014 10:44

A book and one/two letter sheets per night, plus one library book and 3/4 sight words per week. But it is done in a very play-based manner (eg the sight words come with suggestions of games to play with them, such as snap) so DS loves homework and generally wants to do more than required. I would say overall he does about 15 mins per day, plus (on the teacher's recommendation) we encourage him to play with toys that develop fine motor skills (playdough, pegs, nuts and bolts, junior meccano etc)...

Artandco · 30/09/2014 10:45

15 mins reading - that's with me helping, he reads half himself, half needs my help still.
15 mins maths/ writing - one or the other. It's 15 mins max, but atm it's only taking him less than 5 mins so fine.

It's about right for him. He would do the reading every night regardless and have been doing that with him before he started school.
The worksheets are just simple covering what they learnt that day ie 8 letters, match them to pictures ie Q to Queen. Takes 1 min

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 30/09/2014 11:29

My DS is bringing home a picture book for me to read to him most days. Plus they are doing a learning journal where they suggest an activity and we put something in to record it. You can also record what else you are doing instead. So it might be doing measuring around the home and taking a picture of him using the scales or something. It's not too bad although at this stage of the year it can end up being more of a scrap-booking exercise for the parents. They do more of their own recording as the year goes on.

mausmaus · 30/09/2014 11:32

about 3/4 worksheets
but we only do the ones dc can actually do like colouring in or tracing or cutting out shapes. the rest I leave + a note to the teacher.

WhispersOfWickedness · 30/09/2014 11:40

That sounds far too much
My DS gets a reading book most nights. The first couple of Fridays he got a worksheet home, but it is clear that it is optional (and he didn't get one last Friday, so it's not every week).
He does bring spellings home, but that is not something that normally happens until year 1, he is just ahead with reading/writing, so they are letting him do a little bit of year 1 work as an extra.

DataColour · 30/09/2014 11:41

Just the reading book (with no words yet) and a book the child has chosen to be read by the parent..once a week. I think end of term they give out a sheet of sounds they have been learning. that's it.
Sounds far too much to me OP.

Towanda · 30/09/2014 11:59

DD3 gets a reading book, high frequency words, phonemes and a book with a grid containing 18 different tasks (write a list of adults in setting, friends you've made, show us you can do your zip up, count steps etc) which they have to do over a half term. Evidence of everything they do has to be provided as each piece earns points and the child with the most points at the end of the half term wins a prize. I'm tempted to boycott it as I really don't like it. My ds2 was in reception last year and this grid was introduced in his final half term - before that and when my older dc were in reception they brought home reading book, phonemes and hfw.

bonkersLFDT20 · 30/09/2014 12:07

That sounds like too much. Has the teacher told you officially that this is what they get in Reception? I would talk to the teacher to clarify. Makes you wonder what they're doing with your child in the 6hrs they've got them.

My Foundation child got letters and sounds and his book to read. No set time to do them, just encouraged to do as much as possible.

In year 1 he gets some spellings and something related to the topic they're doing. Two weeks to do it in.

hollie84 · 30/09/2014 20:24

None. I will do daily reading once he gets books but I don't think they need to be learning letters and sounds at home.

AryaOfHouseSnark · 30/09/2014 20:29

We just have a book - bif chip and kippers , although I am not too sure who is who .
In a while we will get some phonics work, but nothing more than 5 - 10 mins of work.

littlesupersparks · 30/09/2014 20:37

How do working parents have time for this? We have time for dinner and bed that's it!! I read a library book at bed time (he has a different one each day) I imagine this will progress to a reading book when he's ready. He has some letter cards in his bag which I don't know what we are supposed to do with by he knows all his letters anyway so that's fine. He has homework at the weekend that takes 10-15 minutes to do. To be honest, I wouldn't do letter sheets if they got sent home everyday. Definitely not on the days I work anyway. IMO reception should be play based with a bit of reading/writing when they enjoy it. Just write a note on the days they are too tired.

Doodledot · 30/09/2014 20:37

Reading book once a week and changed every week. So 5-10 min ready a few times over the week. There is no way I would do more with a four year old - who also goes to after school club three days, activities on others and the rest of the time plays with her brother etc Weekends are for fun outdoor activities etc. is it a private school - it's way to much. Some DC are exhausted after a full day ( not mine but they need to run off energy instead)

Doodledot · 30/09/2014 20:39

I work too so by 6 pm there is no way if be starting all that lot!

Thelovecats · 30/09/2014 20:41

That does sound a lot. It's worth dropping a note to the school maybe, as they really should be taking parental opinion into account when setting homework. Also other parents too if they feel the same. I'm not suggesting complaining by the way, but merely that they might not be aware of the opinion of parents towards the amount of work set.
My reception DS will not even receive guided reading til after half term by the way.

TheEnchantedForest · 30/09/2014 20:58

Just reading in reception at our school (outstanding, high-achieving state primary for context) then reading plus some maths activities in year one.
The UJs ramp it up a bit but infants have a more gentle approach.

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