Homework in Reception...is this normal?

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Our school has started giving homework to the Reception children. My DD is in Reception and my DS was in Reception last year, so I know that they didn't do this last year.
Once a week, they bring home a homework book and it normally involves writing words with sounds that have learnt that week and then to write a few sentences with those words.
I was wondering is this usual is most schools?
Getting August born DD to write a sentence is not easy at all! Is it a new curriculum thing?

Yes ours did. From the sept, Ours got a mini whiteboard, pen, a set of letters (from the phonic session that week) and they had to arrange letters to make a series of words so hat, mat, cat or chip, chop, chant etc based on sounding that phonic arrangement. They also got 2 books a week from October half term. They got some writing but only something like write a postcard etc...no maths,

Only reading in reception with my DCs, plus occasional project type homework at certain times of year (Easter bonnet, Xmas decoration). In y1, one piece of homework each weekend, which takes 20-30 mins.

DS gets a sheet each term with suggested activities on which we are encouraged to do one of each week. Things like "go for a winter walk and tell us about it" "help with some jobs at home"

Children are encouraged to write/draw/stick in pictures depending on their ability/mood.

The goals for the end of the Reception have changed and they are supposed to be able to write an independent sentence by the end of the year. Ds3s teacher talked about little else at parents evening.

This link shows each of the 17 early learning goals which I looked up after she said he's not going to hit several of them. www.gov.uk/government/publications/eyfs-profile-exemplication-materials

DS2 gets up to 3 reading books a week, the minimum is 1 but if you sign the reading record the teacher swaps them every 2 days.

They get a piece of homework each weekend but it's normally something 'fun' and doesn't take long at all. This weeks was to draw a picture of themselves in their costume for Barn Dance day this week, week before we had 2 clues to read out for them to guess, draw and write the answer (easy ones - whats got 4 legs, a tail and says miaow!).

Also get a sheet with their 5 action/red words that week to double check they know them.

It's also easier if you have a cooperative child. Until recently, it would be a 30min+ battle to get DD to do 10 minutes of anything. One night before xmas, we spent over 2.5 hours slogging through 5 maths questions, 2 handwriting exercises and writing 10 sentences using the spelling words.

After that, the school told me to just ask her 3 times and if she said no then to just leave it, but not fight her.

My little girl is in reception. Every week she gets a new songbirds story book which we then need to record her progress in her reading journal. She also gets a phonics lotto pair game to play which we then need to stick in her homework book. She also gets two writing excercises, writing the word for the picture then practicing the four letters for that week. She has also just started getting 4 specific sentences which encompass the phonics/words they have been learning that week. All of this then has to be stuck into her homework book. Additionally, three weeks ago all of the three classes in reception have been streamed into ability groups for 'English' .... Compared to some of the posts Im stating to think this is quite excessive. Although DD does really enjoy doing it and she can read, basic words and knows how to blend the letters and 'break down' longer words. What do you think?

Gosh, yet again I love that we chose the infant school we did. Only homework in reception was a book sent home weekly with no pressure and the occasional "fun" weekend challenge.

They do RML/RWI so they do stream in school and send the books home when they're finished so you have them if you want to read them.

It seems to work very very well. It's not a high ability area as such but going by mn threads we have a lot of very good readers already in yr1. Perhaps not plying on the pressure leaves them to enjoy it and go at their own pace and keep learning fun.... something that doesn't seem to be encouraged anymore by the powers that be.