Primary school work load is too much

[confusedinlondon]

I am simply unable to cope with the work load that the teachers are sending home. My partner is out at work all day and I am working from home. I have a 5 and 6 year old and I need to monitor them to constantly. I need to sit with them to watch the videos and then explain the work. I cannot just them to get on with it and the work load is too much. My employer isn’t being flexible; they have basically told people to just do it which means working till 10pm. For Monday my son has white rose maths video, worksheets and plus 5 additional worksheets.
It’s not helped by the fact our school seems to have a number of stay at home mums who seem to be willing to boast about what their children have done. I feel like screaming at the teachers. They have shown no kindness or consideration, they haven’t phoned to check on the kids at all.

I feel for you. I only work part time and I don't have the time to supervise school work either. So God only knows how full time workers are managing it.
My strategy is to do 1 hour with each child and just do whatever fits into that time. At the moment my 5 year old can get everything done but my 8year old manages 1 task out of 3.
Have you spoken to the school about it? They may be sympathetic to your situation.

Just tell the teachers that your not a machine and you have to work in order to pay bills. That comes first.

I'm a teacher and the government are recommending children in KS1 work for 3 hours a day.
Can you prioritise English(phonics and writing), maths and reading?

You have my sympathies op,
Are your DC similar in ability? As the DC are close in age could you double up and do the same work with them both to cut your time in half?
Alternatively do they have to get it all done in school time, how about when DH is home? You take one child and he the other.
My reception age child also is receiving loads. Way more than he’d be getting in school. The teachers are between a rock and a hard place.

The government has announced the number of hours of education schools are legally required to provide, and told parents to complain to ofsted if they aren’t providing enough. I think it’s 3or 4 hours per day for primary. That’s why they’re sending so much. If you can’t do it, you can’t do it. I doubt you’re the only one. Please email their teachers and explain you can’t do everything due to work, perhaps ask them which work they’d like you to prioritise.

Speak to the school. They legally have to set it but they will accept you not being able to complete it. Schools are stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment.

Just do what you can!

I'm doing about 90 minutes with my 6 year old in three 30 minute slots during the day. Plus some reading.

We're actually not doing anything from school because it didn't work for us.

I would do half an hour of something in the morning, half an hour at lunchtime and maybe an hour after work? Or you and your partner could take a child each after work?
Just focus on them each doing some reading, writing and maths every day.
During the day while you're working just get them to do some educational stuff independently - games on BBC Bitesize/TT Rockstars/Teach your monster to read/Phonics Play, watch the Bitesize TV programme and some educational stuff like Alphablocks, Odd Squad and Operation Ouch.

Some SAHM might be doing loads but lots of children will be doing nothing, so I wouldn't bother comparing.

Remember as well that in most parts of the world 5 & 6 year olds are in Kindergarten. Your children won't be behind if they don't follow the National Curriculum for a term.
If by Easter they can read and write a little and have a grasp of the basics of maths they will be fine.

There have been a lot of parents complaining here too. Everyone thinks it's too much, even the SAHMs are struggling especially if they have more than one child. The school keep saying 'do what you can' but the problem is with other commitments that may be almost nothing. I don't think it's the teachers fault, they have been put under pressure to deliver a comprehensive learning programme following complaints after the first lockdown.
Tell the school you cannot do it due to work pressures. Your children will be doing alternative learning, whatever that may mean in your house (YouTube can be educational too!)

@confusedinlondon

I am simply unable to cope with the work load that the teachers are sending home. My partner is out at work all day and I am working from home. I have a 5 and 6 year old and I need to monitor them to constantly. I need to sit with them to watch the videos and then explain the work. I cannot just them to get on with it and the work load is too much. My employer isn’t being flexible; they have basically told people to just do it which means working till 10pm. For Monday my son has white rose maths video, worksheets and plus 5 additional worksheets. It’s not helped by the fact our school seems to have a number of stay at home mums who seem to be willing to boast about what their children have done. I feel like screaming at the teachers. They have shown no kindness or consideration, they haven’t phoned to check on the kids at all.

You are aware that the teachers had less than 12 hours to prepare all this, they are likely teaching in school keyworker and vulnerable children as WELL as preparing work for your students at home (as well as all these phone calls you are expecting)

I find it awful that you feel like you should "scream" at them, and because they don't know your personal situation and say that they haven't shown any kindness because haven't phoned your children in 9 days.

Have you actually approached them in a nice, rational manner and mention that you are struggling, asked them what to focus on / what they can miss out?

For every family who has too much, there is another saying it's not enough because everyone is in different circumstances, unless you speak to them how can they support you?

Currently you are struggling to do your job and look after your own two children (many people are), but imagine you had to do that and then were called unkind because you didn't have time to phone 15-20 EXTRA people on top of your job and childcare, because that might be what those teachers are facing right now. Have some compassion.

Could you try 1 x hour of intensive input first thing in the morning and another at lunchtime, then let them do easy creative stuff the rest of the time (drawing, reading, dancing, dressing up, Lego, etc etc)

That would be enough to keep school of your back, but a bit more doable with work?

I feel for you. Mine are older primary and that’s hard enough!

Ask the school to let you know which tasks are most important, get as far as you can through the list. I'm home schooling a 5yo, and she can't do any of the tasks without my presence and input. On the plus side, the work takes her 1-1.5 hours, but she's not getting the quantity you describe (3 tasks/day). Can you just do 2 worksheets/child/day and simply accept that's what you can do?

And if you can take annual leave in hours, maybe consider taking an hour a day, just to help a bit?

I think the key is to do what you can. It's not helpful to compare because everyone is in different situations and the school will know this. Some children will be getting more attention than at school, others less. You could perhaps aim to do the English one day and maths the next, so you're doing half the work.

Please speak to the school

.l feel like screaming at the teachers. They have shown no kindness or consideration, they haven’t phoned to check on the kids at all.

Missed this the first time.

How do you know they have shown no consideration? They have probably had parents say they aren't providing enough. Teachers can win!!

They will phone eventually. Teaching the KW kids, and providing stuff online is two FT jobs, never mind phoning. They will get round to it.

The comment about screaming at teachers is very unfair; sounds like you are projecting your unhappiness at the situation (which millions of families are in!) onto someone just doing their job.

Every family is different but we are in the same position (1 parent working out the house and the other at home full time with kids) and make it work by:

• doing schoolwork 7-9am and 5pm-6pm if any left

-creative/Montessori/nature/self directed style activities in the day -daily exercise during parent at home lunch break -1 day a week use annual leave -High parent input on weekends to “fill up” their attention cup

• organise a tray of independent activities every night for the next day (colouring,playdoh, puzzles etc) for them to use when you’re busy

If you were one of the parents I my class I would want you to let me know you were finding it tricky so I could think of ways to support you.

I'm sure if you explained all this to the teacher (politely of course!) they'd be understanding. I know DD's teacher would be.

Loads of people are in a shit situation with trying to work from home, help several children with school work, look after younger siblings etc. They have to appreciate how hard it is. The teacher might be juggling all that too!

I have the same problem. Raised it with school and basically said I can only really support maths and English, anything else is a bonus and I can’t guarantee it’ll get done although we will try. I worry enormously about the kids falling behind but I am not prepared for us all to spend every days stressed and snappy with each other.

The problem is it’s ok to say do what
You can but when you know a third of class will have done it all, it’s hard to be chilled about creating a gap in performance. Tomorrow will be a shower for us as my toddler has a vomiting bug. I’ll aim for the phonics work but anything else just won’t happen. My general approach this time is to prioritise reading and writing. Maths is fine and I know my daughter will catch up as lessons seem to be mastery of what she knows. Phse, PE, art etc will be a bonus. I am concerned about reading abs wiring though as they seem to move at quite a pace.

Just do what you can - it's a simple as that. Our 6 year old DD is doing maximum 2 hours a day around my husbands workload as I'm at work full time.

yes op a lovely teacher friend (was primary now secondary since 1 year) of mine told me her son isn't doing that much. he's year 6. I got totally stressed out by the school work last week but have decided not to worry too much, you really can only do what you can do, its about your kids and your mental health at the end of the day.

Op please, please talk to your child's teacher.
Ring or email them, request a well-being call then do only as much as you can manage until you get the call.

In the last lockdown schools were inundated with complaints that they weren't setting enough and weren't live teaching.

This time they are required to set a certain amount and to be more proactive about ensuring it's done.

But they want to help you and your dc to get through this and do your best. Talk to them, tell them what you're struggling with and work out a solution together.

Please try to remember that although being angry and wanting to scream at somebody is normal and understandable just now, your child's teacher is not to blame. They will be juggling similar issues to you. Doubled workload plus arranging alternative childcare or homeschooling their own dc often. None of this is your problem of course, but please give them a chance to help you rather than getting angry and ranting at them.