How bad is it for DS to not do his homework (reception)?

[BellaGoth]

Not been a great start to school. DS is being assessed for autism / sensory processing disorder. I had meetings with the SENCO in July and was filled with optimism, but none of the info was passed on to the class teacher and his behaviour quickly deteriorated.

He's got a book (no words) which he's supposed to look at, plus two worksheets for his first two letters. He did one of the sheets but is refusing to do the other. He had a quick look at the book but really wasn't putting any effort in.

Pretty much all of today so far has revolved around not doing this homework. Everyone is in a foul mood. I'm struggling with anxiety anyway and I can't think straight. How awful would it be if he doesn't do the rest? Part of me thinks he's so little for all this pressure, but on the other hand I worry that if I don't set him up with good habits now we're going to have 14 years of fighting over homework.

Thanks all.

The note that came home with the worksheets said to return the completed booklet on Wednesday so the new sheets could be added, they're definitely expecting it to be done. I'll have to have another word with the teacher.

Only reading should be homework in reception. It is ridiculous that parents push for it!
In our reception we only give it out if a parent is really pushy...and only for that child.
In KS1 there is the addition to reading of a few spellings, but again no homework unless pushed for by individual parents.
In KS 2, homework begins to become a little more formal, and year 6 do have compulsory set homework.

Bin it - just bin it. You have rights over what happens in your own home.

Worksheets for (mostly) 4 year olds, who've been in school for a couple of weeks total. Talk about how to put kids off education.

In your shoes, OP, I would see the teacher and say pleasantly (without being confrontational) that you will not be doing homework other than reading with DS, as it will only be counter-productive to him enjoying and engaging with his school work. Set up a meeting with the head if they seem unhappy.

Don't worry too much about homework in reception. My daughter moved mid year in reception and didn't get any till I asked.
If your getting letters to learn to write maybe make it fun, writing letters in chalk on the pavement, practicing writing letters with a water gun you could then take photographs to use as evidence (not that you need it) x

Not a parent but newly diagnosed ASD.

Routine is pretty important to me. At a certain point during my schooling (definitely not reception more beginning secondary) that meant a time I did homework.

Definitely tell the teacher if he doesn't like it - as pp have said more important to like school.

The following is only if you want to try homework which seems very early so maybe later in the school year or some future year:
could you have a go at starting for whatever seems the right amount of time depending on your DS (could be a short as minute or two) then if he doesn't engage or gets upset stop. Also set a maximum time so if he does some he knows it won't go on for ever even if he hadn't completed the worksheet.

My ds started yr5 this year, and has no homework yet.
School policy in KS1 is, that you spend 20min max on any home work, and If the child get distressed stop anytime.
Doesn't worth ruining weekend over the homework.
You can introduce more strict policy over homework in ks2, like our school, and a lot of other countries start school around that age.
Only thing I think it's important is reading daily at rec/ks1 stage.

Pretty much all of today so far has revolved around not doing this homework. Everyone is in a foul mood. I'm struggling with anxiety anyway and I can't think straight

Arf @ "start as you mean to go on" - I hope Sunday's the next 14 years aren't like this for you!

If he enjoys looking at the book great- if he doesn't, as long as you've given it a shot, you've done your bit.

My DS with ASD refused to look at the books he brought home from school - I despaired and asked the teacher what I should do. She told me not to worry and just to look at books he did like as he was the most able reader in the class .

I agree with setting aside a certain, regular time for home work..and when the times up, it's up.

Obviously my DS did start to do homework at some point, or he would have forever been in detention in high school.

Do the work sheets even need to go back to school? Some schools just send them home and ask that you keep them to practice later.

Lynette the worksheets are in a little hole punched booklet, the booklet has to go back on Wednesday for the next sheets to be added. They're definitely expecting the sheets to be done.

Fourteen years... I feel utterly sick at the thought of it.

I would write on the sheet something like: " DS and I looked at this sheet together and talked about which words begin with the letter S - We thought of snake, slug and soap."

or "DS wasn't keen to write on this sheet this week- he practiced writing the letter S in shaving foam in the bath instead"

If the teacher isn't happy with this she's a fooling should be working in early years.

*fooling = fool

Our school has no home work in KS1 other than reading 10 mins a day.
High performing state school - where kids are encouraged to do extra curricular outside of lesson time instead !

you have other priorities right now.

Just write something on the sheet like Lynette said - my DC had homework in a similar format in reception and I work in a school and that will be fine. No one wants homework to be stressful for little ones settling into school. Please don't give it another thought.