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!