6 year old ds kept in school to finish work at home time - whaddya reckon?

[newknifenewslain]

I need objectivity here because I think I've already decided I don't like ds's new teacher's teaching style. I think the set homework is unimaginative and excessive and there is a lot of pressure to get considerable amounts of homework done; they lose their playtime on Tuesday if it isn't finished (earlier thread of mine)

Today the class were let out at just after 3.15 when finish time is 3.10 but ds did not appear. I discovered that he was finishing work along with another boy. He was sat at the table without his coat or book bag, with chairs up on the table around him.

I asked if he had misbehaved or whether he had chosen to stay and finish and was told that he needed to finish this piece of work. I was also reminded that we were a few mins late this morning (dd was ill and had to stay off school but both her brothers went in).

Now, as a result of all this Felix missed his friends that we walk home with and play in the park with after school - our mini ritual.

I won't say what I think yet, want to hearyour opinions please

It's poor isn't it? I've heard that she tells the children that SATs are coming up and has them working their behinds off for them. I shall be having none of that.

My dc are behind because we HE them and they also received schooling in France for two terms but they aren't bottom of the class.

We've just finished this week's homework tonight - my mum came round to help because there is no way I'd get it done with 2 children getting copious amounts of work plus a 4 year old who just wants bath and then bed after dinner - not having to wait up for homework plus reading to be done.

As a lone parent, I can't DO it all. Neither do I think there is much merit in doing these crapola worksheets but that is another thing.

that HE stands for Home Educated (a couple of years ago for a year when I was with dp)

Go and see the head tomorrow. Show him/her exactly how much homework your ds gets and ask if they think it's acceptable for a 6 year old.

that they tell them about SATS. Our school made it very clear that they DON'T let the kids know and the kids just think it's a fun quiz (they do lots of play stuff and special activities in the afternoons after a SATS paper, so it just feels like another unusual activity).

To my mind half past eight is much too late for a 6 year old to be doing homework -or even awake!
tbh, I would do as much homework as you can manage without causing stress, misery and boredom, and then add a polite note saying 'sorry we were not able to complete the full task'. This is what a group of us did last week when our Yr 2's were given a huge quantity of work. DS was in a compltete state about it and thought he would miss Golden Time. Which turned out to be not the case.

It may be that given some independent choiuce as to whethger to get a stciker for completeing all his work, or feeling that he doesn't like taking it in incomplete, your ds then develops his own sense of anxiety, and wants to finish, and will use his own motivation a bit more.

But I strongly feel that (messing about or misbehaving aside) children should be allowed to complete the amount of work they can do with in lesson time and then have a proper break.

SATS madness. Madness under any name.

I suspect the teacher was trying to punish you for dropping him at school late to make a point. - which is IMO an unreasonable way to act.

I can see that it may be frustrating for her and poss. rest of class if someone arrives late repeatedly as perhaps concentration is disrupted.

I would expect a teacher to act more professionally in dealing with it however and to talk to you rather than getting into a tit for tat situation. I would make an appt to talk to her about the whole situation re homework, not completing work etc.

Is this a fairly inexperienced teacher, new to the job?

I would contact the education authority and seek their advivce and I would let the head teacher and the teacher concerned know that I was doing this.

Wrong. At 10 maybe. At 6 no. It's already a long day and he will have hw to do at home. If he is regularly failing to do his work on time, she needs to address that with him and you to work out why. DS#1 (10) is quite slow because of too much rabbit, so he loses some of his breaks - takes it on the chin and so do I. But after school is too much like a detention and uncalled for.

Definitely not on. He is 6 FGS!

I would ask the teacher if she thinks this is a way to motivate children. Because if she does then she needs to go back to school herself.

Right, ask to see the homework policy -they will have one as this is supposed to set out exactly what each year group should be doing plus show progression through the school.

Homework was always non statutory when I taught.

24 hrs written notice is required to keep a child after schhool.

I kept children in from play if they din't finish school work given during school time (juniors) but never after school. If h/work wasn't done I would give leaway before speaking to the parents.

...but he's 6???