Homework for Year 3 & Reception - how much time to spend on it?

[NewSchoolNewName]

Year 3 DC has a homework grid where he has to pick one project activity per week, some much more complex than others, plus weekly spellings, times tables and at least 3 reading books per week. We’ve also got a list of suggested websites to do extra maths and literacy work on.

Reception DC has a literacy sheet (writing) and a maths sheet weekly, and usually one reading book a night.

How much time per day would you say is reasonable for them to spend doing homework?

For year 3DC I'd say tables and spelling about 5 minutes a night. Reading around 5-10 minutes a night of DC reading to you but pick up your child's cues if they seem tired let them read less; if they get into the story and want to read more then go for it. Also a period of you reading to them every night. Project I' say aim for 20 -30 minutes but I wouldn't force if DC hates doing it or equalt wants to do more.

Reception I'd go for 5 minutes them reading to you, plus some you reading to them. Maybe 20minutes each of maths and literacy (ideally split into smaller chunks).

Has school not given any guidelines? At this age I would adopt a fairly relaxed attitude. If they've not finished after spending the sort of times suggested above, take it into school unfinished rather than stressing.

No, we’ve not had any guidelines from the school about how long they think children should spend doing homework.

And thanks for the advice

45 minutes a night for a reception child would be ludicrous! I'd prefer they didn't have any at this age but the school sets it (we were told they didn't) so we spend 5 mins about 3 times a week - a couple of reading books and a homework sheet at the weekend.

Nothing at that age other than encouraging them to read or be read to. Homework isn’t compulsory at that age. Mine didn’t do anything at that age - by the time they were home from after school club, dinner, sports or music class and some playtime, it was bed time.

No, we’ve not had any guidelines from the school about how long they think children should spend doing homework.

There's a fair old chance that the school doesn't think the kids should be doing homework, but 'cos parents are so keen on it they give the "homework grid" which doesn't actually require any marking etc. effort on their part.

To clarify I meant 20 minutes in total for literacy and maths for reception child, not 20 minutes of each every night ! Agree that would be ludicrous.

Likewise the project time for the year 3 child was total time.
My DC used to spend 10 minutes doing spelling and tables on each weekday night, then we read before bedtime every night and they spent 20ish minutes at the weekend doing project work.

I think this weekend we've spent about 30 minutes on my Y2 child's homework (it's these collaborative research tasks aka parental homework so still needs a lot of adult guidance). That comes home weekly... the Y1 child gets a similar task fortnightly - plus spellings and reading books nightly.

We always spent more time than recommended on homework but when home schooling seemed to get through topics with ease, maybe because we chose them?

Most schools have a homework policy. They often post this on their web site. Have you looked for it. If it’s not there, ask for it. It would be unusual not to have one. I’m not a huge fan of projects. They should have stated aims and enhance the curriculum and learning. If they are woolly I would be choosy about which ones DC did.

If it’s a private school, this will just be the start of hours of homework!

Reception here. He's bought home a few worksheets. I've ignored them as he's not been keen, but he reads a book to me about 3 x a week.

Seems excessive for reception. DD is in Reception and gets one reading book a week and homework each Friday to do over the weekend. This week she had to write one sentence

I've told teachers I got on well with that - for every "making a model" homework they send home - I'm sending the child in with joke books in revenge!

I’m not particularly against schools asking for homework to be done but it should be aimed at the individual child to some extent. There isn’t anything wrong with children using scissors to cut something out. Or use glue accurately. Or colour something in accurately. Or get dressed in X amount of time after PE. If all helps. What I think isn’t useful is continual repetition and homework that parents do.

It’s also noticeable that posters want reading but don’t mention numeracy skills. My DDs didn’t get enough practice at maths or even suggestions about what we could do at home to support maths. Therefore early maths ability is fostered by parents and plenty don’t feel they have the skills to do that. Many just do 10 minutes reading and a few spellings and nothing else. This might be why we are not great at maths as a country. We don’t seem to recognise the need for it and schools set projects and model making (which does often have some maths if parents weave if in) but don’t explain what the learning opportunities are in the homework. Many schools don’t tell parents what they can do to help regarding maths anywhere near as much as they do for literacy at an early age.

I do think children should be encouraged to supplement school work and making judgements that DC doesn’t do it because they don’t want to might come back to bite parents on the backside. They might never want to do it! What then? Good habits should start early but they should not be onerous and the homework should support the curriculum and try to fill gaps in knowledge or skills.

I think it depend on children, Bubbles.
The children who are naturally academic and willing to learn, so inevitably ahead may not gain anything from average homework at primary.
Children at expected levels, they may or may not. Some find the work more interesting if they get it, and become more able. Some just do what's required and stay on the level.
But with children who struggles, doing little bit of catching up everyday do help, imo.
Anyways, I am a big believer of doing little work regularly for long terms sake.

My DS is reception. He has a reading book each night, spellings to learn each week and a school library book for me to read him each Wednesday.
Periodically there's a new activity on ActiveLearn with maths activities to complete on his iPad.
At school holidays they also get an activity sheet which are fun too.

Seems to be working well as he's doing wel with reading, writing and maths.

Our school gives nothing except reading books until Christmas of year 1. By year 2 it's probably about 10 mins of literacy and 5 minutes of maths per week as well as reading which is meant to be 4 x weekly. Then a half weekly project (usually just given a title and can do junk model, story, poster etc for eg "Fire!" Or "Heroes" could it the title)

Perks of going to a slightly crap less academically aspirational school I guess.

Half termly project, half weekly would be crazy!

My dc get spellings and reading only, reception, year 2 and year 3.
Thankful dc are in a school with common sense as homework in primary has zero benefits.

Year 3 my youngest's school suggested 20 minutes 3 days a week for homework.

We only get 5 words in yr3 to learn a week and a reading book to read. In reception a reading book. No more than 5 min a day. Our schools tells people to go to the park, play, do extra curricular stuff, go the library and anything else to give kids different experiences. Home work no benefit that young

High achieving private school here.
Reception: 3 books per week, some termly fun homework (decorate an easter egg, count number of windows in your house, ...) but these are voluntary
year 3 : reading books and 2 times 45 min max other homework per week. usually fun stuff that can be done in several ways (learn about volcanos - you can make a collage, write something, paint, make a poster, .....)

We havent got any maths homework, my reception daughter can only do simple sums to 10, some writing but very little. She is although a free reader and loves reading. Her reading has been progressing so fast it was a surprise to everyone including her (state school) teacher, when she started school few months ago she couldnt read at all(bilingual child who speaks our native language at home only).

My ds is in reception and gets 3 books a week with the expectation that he reads every nightl which we do. Every half term we're given a folder with a homework sheet in it with topic, numeracy and literacy 'menus' on. We're supposed to pick 2 or 3 off each list and complete them over the half term. I just returned the folder with the sheet in last half term. I do however occasionally send in any pictures or writing he does which is pretty good or demonstrates a new 'thing' for him, his teacher seems happy enough with that tbh.

Thanks all.

We’ve been trying for little and often this week with the homework.
Times tables are definitely something that Y3 DS needs to work on.