What's Normal for Reception?

[DrPimplePopper]

Hi can anyone advise me on what is a normal level of homework and communication for Reception year please?

My son just started school (about a week-10 days later than other local schools started) and his school now only do a 4 and a half day week. I am concerned how much work they'll be trying to cram in during a shorter week and how much they'll need to be putting down for homework to make up for it so want to keep an eye on it right from the get-go.

He's been in full time about 2.5 weeks, 1 week was just part time, and since the first full week has had a phonics homework sheet each day, plus a weekly reading book, plus another picture book with a word wallet and we write a reading diary about what he's guessed from the pictures. I would love to know from others if this a standard amount of work at this stage? I wasn't expecting a homework sheet every day.

We have had no letter or emails about what the children are working on this term or half term. There's no communication at the start or end of day. I could make an appointment but I don't want to make a fuss already. He was at the nursery full time and it seems very different, there each week there was a display on the door with info about skills they were working on, and parents were always welcomed in for discussion.

I know a few other schools' Receptions have sent out newsletters, but we've not had anything like this other than leaflets asking for donation, money, Macmillan cakes etc. I don't want to be one of 'those' mums always on the teacher's back (ex-teacher!) but also I don't want my son to be getting too much or not enough work, and me not to know what he is doing.

Thanks if anyone can give me details about their Reception so I can compare!

It sounds like a lot.

In Reception DC1 had one short piece of homework each week, alternating between literacy and numeracy, plus a few high frequency words to learn each week. We were asked to listen to him read nightly, new reading books were given out as soon as the old one was finished. They also sent home a picture book each weekend for parents to read to the children.

DC2 finished Reception in a different school. He had two short pieces of homework each week, one literacy and one numeracy. And again, we were asked to listen to him read nightly, and new reading books handed out as soon as the old one’s finished.

The amounts of homework have also increased further up the school, but the only homework the DC are expected to do daily is reading and times table practice (for my Year 4 DC).
All the children have to bring in reading records weekly showing evidence of reading at home, we’ve been told that children who don’t do this will lose break times and do reading instead at break times.

We get a weekly information sheet covering which phonics sounds they’ve learned so far and what else they’ve been doing. They change their story books 3 times a week (these are stories for sharing, not reading scheme books, which they’ll start sending home in a couple of weeks). There’s no formal homework, just the expectation that you read to/with the child 5 times a week.

We're asked to read to them every day and get a new picture book every day to read. That's it. We don't even start reading schemes until next term.

We get a newsletter every week and the kids have a learning journal with photos and comments on what they've been doing and saying which we get to take home at the end of the year.

5 full days.

Homework (bar whole school homework which is often a piece of art to celebrate a certain week - ie this week it's creative arts week) is basically sounds and words - little laminated cards - they add to these every week.

So we started with some sight words eg 'the' these are blue so we explain cannot be sounded out. Then other words are like - it, of, off, as, him, it, a, an, mum, dad etc

Reading book changed Mon, Tues and Fri. We are on basic word books. E.g six in a bed from the oxford reading tree collection

My dd is in reception and we have daily reading assigned with letter cards. The school has sent home a few letters explaining what they’re for, giving parents ideas for learning activities and letting parents know what to expect. There is also a phonics information evening for parents. I’m really impressed and this is a state primary too. It sounds like your child’s reception could do much better with communication.

Yes we've had a phonics evening too and the website details what they are doing.

We also get a Newsletter each week telling us what they've been up to, any special awards, any reminders of events, fundraisers and also what letters they are focusing on!