Punitive home learning policy from year 1 upwards

[Pachamama2017]

Hi there,
My daughter loved school until she started year 2 this year. They had a newly appointed teacher who also has a senior leadership role. Since September she has been crying a lot both at bedtime and just before going in because she 'doesn't want to go' and she 'doesn't like learning' (in spite of the fact that she spent most of the summer asking when she could start learning in y2). I got the impression that there had been a significant increase in pressure in terms of workload and difficulty, my daughter was given homework for the half-term break and came back on the first day of term to a spelling test. I have also since discovered that any children (y1 upwards) will be held in at breaktime if they don't complete homework. I met with the teacher to discuss my daughters feelings twds school and to highlight how such approaches potentially contribute. She completes her hmwk quickly and she hasn't been 'punished' but I don't like that they are essentially threatening 5+ years old. Surely such a punitive approach is counterproductive to creating a low-anxiety environment in which children can thrive? My concerns fell flat as the teacher staunchly defended the policies but her justifications were target based 'meeting literacy and numeracy expectations' etc and it seems that the well-being of young children had not figured in the formation of these policies.
So, has anyone else experienced similar policies in KS1/lower KS2?
How did you deal with it?
Any other thoughts?
Thanks in advance!

"I just wonder what effect all these policies are having on the mental health of our children".
Exactly, Quellium!

And when, exactly, do you think they should learn this Artie? I've met many a uni student who can't take responsibility for their own learning... Let alone a ks1 pupil!! The onus is not on the child to make their learning environment an enjoyable one but on those who manage it and surely a hardline punitive approach is counterproductive to what teachers ultimately want to achieve if it results in children disliking and/or being worried about school.

It is up to parents to make sure that a primary school child completes their homework, which is why I don't agree with punishing children who don't do it, but I also don't think they need to be given a reward just for completing it.
When children are older it is their own responsibility, and if they are used to doing what is expected of them, they are going to find that easier to continue doing so.

I would advise you to read your school behaviour policy and sanctions policy. I am not aware that DC of this age are routinely given detention for not completing homework. What has actually been agreed in these policies and is this not being followed by the teacher?

I think it’s totally wrong. I would complain but only if the behaviour policy doesn’t mention detention for not completing homework. If it does, you have prior knowledge of this policy so complaining won’t get you far. However I would campaign to stop it.

By the way, I’ve never seen low scores in Sats being achieved by the brightest DC. Our school was totally relaxed about Sats but the brightest got the high marks and the less bright didn’t.

I used to be a teacher and it’s things like this that led me to the decision to home educate my own children. Little ones getting stressed because of homework, spelling tests, exams.. Teachers keeping them inside at break in reception because they haven’t completed class or home work! Don’t get me started on those dull books they’re forced to read. We’re taking the enjoyment out of learning and creating children (and subsequently adults) with poor mental health. It’s all about targets these days.
This isn’t a dig at teachers btw, they’re doing an incredible job in a tough environment with a lot of factors outside of their control.

It is a new policy bubbles buddy. I have read the behaviour policy and no mention of it there. I found it after re-reading the home learning letter and there was an asterix which lead you to an addendum in small italics that 'failure to complete would result in pupils being kept in at either breaktime or lunchtime' .... Literally a case of read the small print. I never read that far down initially as it went on to later years. It will be one of the points I raise as they talk about home-school partnerships, which I agree with, but it certainly doesn't feel like one at the moment.

I think homework for such young children is ridiculous and punishing a child for not doing it is terrible. Some children have very chaotic home lives and it's not always easy for parents to make sure it's done. And at this age it is the parents not the child who will is responsibke for making sure its done.
Young children just need to be allowed to play at home. There is plenty of time for homework when they are in secondary school. I feel so sad when I think about schools now. They are putting children of learning.

Schools are in a cleft stick. I teach in an area of deprivation. The children I see don't have books at home. Or quiet places to do homework. Or parents who can support home learning. Some of them don't have parents who can read.
So what do we, as a school, do about it?
We could say to OFSTED all the above and shrug and say well we didn't get them to do it in school because it's a punishment and they should just be playing. We would be straight into RI or Inadequate. And rightly so. No, we have to come up with a solution and get these children to do their home learning - generally reading or Maths - in school time. Because blaming what is going on at home isn't going to cut it or help these children get the qualifications they will need to become productive members of society and break the cycle.
There isn't 'plenty of time' for homework for children who are in great danger of falling behind. They will not achieve the expectations for their yeargroup and will start the next year group further behind.
We generally do this by finding time in the school day but sometimes that will be a 'Homework Club' or similar in break time which is there to encourage them to develop good learning habits, which if they don't get them from school, they won't get from home.
Sorry. I'm not going to apologise for being relentless in trying to help my kids overcome barriers.

Myother - to get this straight you would have homework club for 6 year olds?? Wow.

My other - give the kids a break!! Like most people, they will probably be more productive if you do and much more able to 'meet the expectations'.

We would have in school catch ups for 6 year olds who do not read, yes.
We would have in school catch up for children not completing their home learning, yes. These are children who are already at a disadvantage. We would do everything we can to level the playing field for them, yes.

In school catching up in school time is great! Missing break and lunch is not.

I’m completely fed up with the spellings this year.

My dd is in year 2 (summer birthday). We have 4-5 reading books a week (stage 11-12), a SpaG workbook, a comprehension test, maths workbook (too easy), extra maths sheet (sometimes too hard) and 8 spellings.

The spellings are not easy words, things like: disappointed, unfortunately, strangely, thoughtless. In my opinion these spellings are too hard and we have to practice them almost every day to not completely fail on top of what is already an excessive homework schedule. I work 4 days a week and many parents work full time meaning that you are getting little ones to do homework in the short amount of time you see them between 6pm and bedtime alongside dinner and bath.

Wow rhayader. I cant see why a yr 2 child ahoild have to do that.

I’ve just picked her up and to top it off they now have a multiplication check booklet. Tables 2-12 and they need to know them in order to get bronze, out of order for silver and reverse for gold, ie Q:56, A: seven eights.

😭

Wtf!? Thats too much too young. My girls are bright, and I love that they want tk learn, but in infants theg should still be playing and making up stories and enjoying school. Not being pressured .

Hang on- homework isn't statutory in primary school.

She doesn't have to do it. But it's difficult if they're making such a big fuss.

Please chat to head about the approach and policy; the MOST important thing about primary school is that children learn to love learning.

I'd phone ofsted and report them if you don't get satisfactory responses.

I’ve heard that the hot housing stops after year two which is a bit weird. Why hot house them for the year 2 sats as it will just ruin your progress scores!!

They are set for maths and English and it’s a 4 form entry school so I guess it’s possible that only the top 25% in maths will have been given these but still, they are 6/7 years old.....

Although this particular thing I found is contradictory.

I'd speak to head about her distress, then write to governors and then ofsted.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/homeworkinnprimaryschools

My eldest just pssed for grammar and is flying through year 6. She only knew 2,10 and 5 by the end of year 2 and was top of top set. She also gets anxious under pressure...

Ours has pressure all thru primary which I dont like but I see it could be worse 😳

Thanks SquashedFlyBiscuit it’s good to have something to compare to, the thing is, I’m not remotely concerned about her maths ability. They gave them SATs tests at the end of last half term (for benchmarking) and she easily passed them. I don’t understand the desire to push them so hard.

I don’t think dd would get into grammar school but the only one near us is Henrietta Barnett which is extremely hard to get into and we don’t need that kind of pressure! I’d need to start prepping her for the exam now to get in.

I just meant it as an example that you realky really dont need all this this young :(

Its partly an offshoot of the govt pitting schools against each other and ridiculous testing. But its so so wrong and takes away from a rounded education.

I have found out on the grapevine that another parent challenging policy was told they could opt out of home learning. Whether this was due to individual circumstances, i don't know. However, it would correlate with the legal stance (thanks neurotrash). Something I know I'll definitely be enquiring about. In the meantime, i sent an email advising that should my daughter ever not complete her hmwk that I do not agree to her being kept in at breaktime as it would likely cause the return of her school-related distress. Let's hope they listen!!

Truly ridiculous though, isnt it. Homework sanctions starting from 5!! What is the education system coming to????

Hope it works out.

I'm a primary Sen teacher and absolutely firmly against homework beyond reading and possibly spellings though in one area we just did them every morning as there was little support at home for most kids.

Occasional nice arty projects or bring something in but no pressure at all to do so.

At my own child's school it's optional, short maths is weekly, two termly projects (one arty, one literary- can do both or either or neither) but it's not the end of the world if not done.

Apart from anything, as a teacher it's near to useless to me as I have little idea of how much support they have. I also have enough blooming marking to do as it is. I'd never want a child to be forced to do it and have a battle.

Homework that's been useful is when we do an activity at school and we need research from home eg, data collection or measurements etc which we can use in class. Gives meaning and context. And they often get on board and want to contribute.

Tables unfortunately is because there's now a formal test. However, I personally struggled with tables and I don't think it's helpful for children who don't fully understand the operation of multiplication