this week's homework completed in under 30 seconds. Should I say something or will that mark me out as a pushy parent?

[malefridgeblindness]

I'm worried DS is getting switched off maths at school as he doesn't seem to be being stretched. When he got this week's homework worksheet out I joked that I thought it would take him three minutes - so he said, "okay", time me, and I did. We didn't reach 30 seconds, and he got it all right. He's in Y3. Is it worth raising with the teacher, or is homework so trivial in the grand scheme of things I should just let it go.

Be grateful it doesn't take 30 minutes or longer.

I would be more concerned that he isn't doing doing work that stretched him in school rather than being worried about the homework. I don't really agree with this sort of h/w in primary, but if he's being switched off maths in school, then that is a problem and I would speak to the teacher about that.

I've had this with DD, also in Y3. She's been really bored by her maths homework and also class work this year. Talk to the teacher. I have just done so and the teacher promised to send more open-ended puzzle type stuff home for the ones who need a bit more challenge. First homework after that has been a lovely puzzle that needs loads of thought to complete DD delighted. A good teacher and school won't mind you asking.

Definitely asks. You don't know what he does in school. In our school homework is the same level than school work.

DD just got her term test results and they conformed what we thought about homework, she was in a group too low so now she gets better stuff.

Not to the homework but to the not being stretched. It seems to be a real failing of the new curriculum - that DC are taught to age group expectations and the emphasis is being secure in basics. I think a lot of schools (mine included) are struggling to stretch the DC who "get" the concept first time and don't need lots of consolidation.

TBH I wish for 30 second homework, much better than the homework that DD gets which is sheet after sheet of stuff that she can easily do but she still has to wade through tediously.

I think it's certainly worth raising - the teacher should be differentiating, and he's clearly been given homework on something he's already very secure in. It won't make you look like a pushy parent - the school has no way of knowing how quickly he's getting through the work unless you tell him.

Yes, but the teacher should definitely know how quickly and accurately he is doing the work in class and set appropriate homework. This is probably a homework sheet given to half the class without any differentiation. Even with the new curriculum teachers must know what attainment is and move onto new subjects accordingly. If they don't, then progress will be extremely slow and Ofsted won't be impressed if lots of children fail to make progress. There is nothing wrong with making sure children understand and consolidate their learning, but moving on is also necessary to progress and all children should be challenged and not just those at average attainment. Ask the teacher what he will be doing for the rest of the year and ask how the school is measuring progress. Does your DS know what his targets are? Ask the teacher what progress he has made.

Thanks for this - we've got a parents' evening coming up so I'll raise it with his teacher. I don't understand the new levels at all - so I'll have no idea if he's making progress this year, in any case. He's told me he doesn't have targets for maths, in any case.