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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

Homework in reception -WTAF?

43 replies

Moanranger · 02/12/2016 23:07

Speaking to a friend today with DD in reception, she v concerned as her DD would not do it. (As an aside my DC are 23 & 24 & I have had every experience going with homework) I said to her "just don't do it & tell teacher you won't." She said other children bring in computer generated graphs, etc.
I mean, what is going on here? Study after study has shown that homework has no effect on outcomes, but especially for the early years.
The only rationale I can see is that it is yet another outlet for competitive mummyhood " ooo - let's see which mummy can do the best computer-generated homework & pass it off as their child's!"

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1happyhippie · 02/12/2016 23:15

Never had that when my dc were in reception tbh. My youngest is just in year 3 now so not very long ago.
Reception homework here was reading for 10 mins per night.
simple key words to practice once a week.
A home diary every friday to write what you have done over the weekend,
Occasionally, they would have to find information on a certain topic.

ginsparkles · 02/12/2016 23:17

Dd is in reception, we have 2 books to read when she is in the mood, not too tired. We read them most evenings and get them changed 2-3 times a week. We don't get any other homework

HeyRoly · 02/12/2016 23:18

My DC1 has just started Reception and just has reading books sent home.

Computer generated graphs? Of what? That is so beyond Reception level it's ridiculous!

PinkiePiesCupcakes · 02/12/2016 23:19

My DD has homework and she's only in Nursery. She's expected to do several pieces each half term. Last term it was all drawing things and people, like her favourite meal, her family etc.

I don't really have an issue with it but it seems pointless tbh.

user789653241 · 03/12/2016 07:34

Actually, my ds was able to draw pictures, write stories, copy and paste using word, excel, powerpoint etc. in yr1, which he learned at school, under old NC. So, some reception children can do this under new nc is believable.
He made lots of computer generated pieces since yr1, but it was purely my ds, not mummy, I really didn't have a clue with computer.

abbsisspartacus · 03/12/2016 07:41

My youngest is in nursery he gets homework this week it was make a Christmas mobile I helped him make a simple one other people went to town with recycled twigs tinsel extravagant decor and mine had a coat hanger covered in fabric and a few things hanging off it

Sirzy · 03/12/2016 07:46

When ds was in reception they had a "homework book" with a grid of ideas for things to do at home (go for an autumn walk and draw what you see type activities) that you could pick one of as and when you wanted. No pressure to do it though just there for ideas.

He is in year 2 now and other than reading they only get a homework activity - again very open ended, no pressure - every couple of weeks.

milkysmum · 03/12/2016 07:49

DS is in reception. Each he has a reading book, word card to practice. Then he has a phonics homework book with activities to do- full a4 sheet of things like practicing handwriting, simple sentence formation etc..
THEN he has his other homework book that has an activity of two in- a maths game or something related to a book or theme they have been learning in the week.
Sometimes he wants to do the homework- great, we do it.
Sometimes we have a busy week ( both dh and I work full time aswell) and DS is to tired- well it get handed in on a Friday incomplete- it's tough!
We also have DD in year 3 who can have a ton of work also.
It's too much.

Gileswithachainsaw · 03/12/2016 07:52

It's bull shit isn't it...

I get the reading books but anything else is just a vehicle for those parebts to show themselves.

A 4 yr old could barely turn the computer on or enter a pass word let alone produce some graph or chart..

Let the poor sods run about in the fresh air.

School have them for 6 hours what they don't get done in that time tough crap....

Caroian · 03/12/2016 09:25

We have "no pressure" homework. As in, "here is some stuff to do at home but don't worry if you don't". Reading books come home every night and changed when they are finished (they are also heard reading at school every single day, so really no pressure to do at home). They have a book to practice writing letters, but no real problem if they don't. We do a sharing book of weekend news. We do some of the school tasks - like a senses scavenger hunt that was given over half term - in the same way we would have done other activities ourselves before he started school.

But if he doesn't want to do it, we don't. I don't really care how beautiful other kids' work is. My son can only write, draw and produce what he is capable of. What other people are doing is irrelevant.

(And I would strongly suspect that computer generated graphs are either entirely parent produced - graphs are not a concept many reception children can grasp - or at least strongly parent-supported. As in, they have had their hands on the computer. I let my child get on with scrawling his letters in his own inimitable style. I don't help him do what he isn't capable of doing on his own, even though I am sitting with him. Because that is not the point. It is his work.)

Artandco · 03/12/2016 09:27

Mine have had homework since reception. Not computer based but maths or writing every night alongside reading. Yes they do have to do it, otherwise they will actually end up behind within their class as everyone does it. It a private school, and there is a clause that actually says repeatedly not doing homework can and will result in termination of contract from the next term ie no school place.

NotCitrus · 03/12/2016 09:42

Mine have activities of the week and fortnightly ones are strongly encouraged, but nothing happens if you don't do them (except your child nagging you to help so they can show off a model boat/pyramid/drawing of something to their friends.) Dd loves drawing and craft so we've done most of them, ds did a couple half-arsed drawings. He's KS2 now and focuses on perfect behaviour in lessons as then there's no sanction for not doing homework. Fine by me and the teacher.

user789653241 · 03/12/2016 10:21

No, no graphs, do they even learn to use graphs in reception?
But yes to computer based, even it's not meant to be. It's only way to motivate my ds to do some homework without having meltdowns.(writing mainly!)

sirfredfredgeorge · 03/12/2016 11:54

Our class did graphs in reception, using tally charts appear to be a big EYFS goal, and drawing them into a bar graph seemed to be something they did.

DD could certainly have managed to produce one on the computer in reception unsupported (summer born, so probably when 4, she could certainly use a computer to draw it even if she couldn't use excel...)

Anyway, I'm pretty sure what is going on is that lots of parents demand homework, either because they actually believe it helps, or because they don't like not being involved and actually don't have a clue what to do to help their kids, so want the homework for guidance.

Our school gave no reception homework, even the reading books were less than 5 minutes a week. In Yr 1 they have a whole school grid of thinkers projects which they can do if they want, this seems a good one to me as it meets the parents who need and want ideas, but is irrelevant to anyone else.

flumpybear · 03/12/2016 12:01

My reception children got reading books, practise sheets if you want them from time to time (letters etc) and sometimes something to colour in for a Christmas fair - DD is 8 and only just getting homework now, year 3, maths, sentences, spellings etc

Caroian · 03/12/2016 12:20

using tally charts appear to be a big EYFS goal

I'm pretty sure tally charts aren't used until KS2, but definitely not in early years. The EYFS numeracy goals are a lot less specific and mainly revolve around counting, ordering and looking at one more and one less.

user789653241 · 03/12/2016 12:31

Tally charts are definitely used in reception, at least my ds' school did. I just don't think he had to make it into graph form in reception.

Original poster

Moanranger · 03/12/2016 20:58

I think it is completely pointless, whether the schools mandate it or not. My two got limited homework through primary years at a C of E school; moved DS in year 5 to a private school where he got stupid amounts of homework, weeping with fatigue at night and I had to be the homework nazi, which I hated.. Moved him back to state sector two years later, homework much reduced, sanity prevailed. Daughter went to a top privat girls school & never got more than 45 min a night(I think the school co-ordinated this. ) Both got good GCSEs & did well at uni.
My view: little to no homework in primary, a bit ok in secondary, but bottom line, it makes NO difference to outcomes, except maybe starting home wars over homework or turning students off learning (when there is too much!)

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lollylou2876 · 03/12/2016 21:13

There are national guidelines on how much should be issued according to age, I was shocked as I didn't get homework until high school.

I think it's very wrong, counter productive, and the reason for the teenage mental health epidemic.

There is a Human Right law, that ensures a child's right to play, and I believe that the current approach to homework at primary level breaches our children's right. It always takes way longer than the time alloted by the teacher, and including reading time my child does not have time play.

We grossly underestimate the importance & learning power of pure & simple carefree play- social & basic life skills to name a few.

mrz · 03/12/2016 21:15

The national guidelines were scrapped a number of years ago

lollylou2876 · 03/12/2016 21:40

Mrz - shame as it does have such an impact & seems to vary, school to school. I don't mind homework but at a manageable rate.

NiceFalafels · 03/12/2016 21:46

The only meaningful and properly productive homework in year R/1 is reading. The child reading to an adult and the adult reading to a child. Two of my four read one ORT book every day during their reception year. They were both free reading in the first term in year 1.

obviouslymarvellous · 03/12/2016 22:00

We get shit loads of homework i have twins in year one who get spellings every night for a test on Friday. A reading book every week plus math and English homework each weekend. My eldest in year 4 gets the same amount - pees me right off as the twinkles have speech and other issues and are really struggling. I am getting to the point where I am going to stop doing the homework with the youngest as it's pointless and a bloody stressful task for me each weekend!

user789653241 · 03/12/2016 22:03

I think homework in yr2+ is actually good for child getting into habit of doing some work regularly, as long as it's manageable amount.

I grew up in the country where they never gave us daily reading as a homework, and parents reading bedtime story wasn't a culture. And reading has been done as a whole class learning.
Weird thing is, my country is always one of the top country in PISA. I really wonder how come England struggle so much on teaching children to read, when they put so much effort in reading at school from early age.

obviouslymarvellous · 03/12/2016 22:06

Ps they even got homework in nursery! Reading and either maths/English each week... I maybe outing myself here I've had numerous run in's with the head. It's just a very stressful situation as each weekend I battle trying to get them to understand what they need to do and then they get frustrated etc etc and me too!

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