Worried Reception child is behind/too much homework

[Headisbusting]

My eldest is in reception and I'm worried she is really behind her peers.
Given the level of homework set I can only assume her peers are much further ahead.

This is what my child work is like, is this what your child gets home and are they confident with it?

Each week homework is set to practice 5/6 new words blend the sounds to read the word, spell the word out and to write the word. While practicing the previous words from previous week's and all letters/sounds. Plus she also brings home 2 books which get changed twice weekly. One of these books is her me to read to her and the other for her to read to me.

It seems a lot of homework especially since she doesn't finish school until 3.30 and I have another younger child..by time we get home from school i have to press on with homework straight away, even when she doesn't want to, then I'm making dinner, tidy up, with little time spare to spend free time together before bath and bed. Some nights we see grandparents/they do pick up or might go a walk or shops etc so can't fit it all in.
I dread after school now, if we don't try do some homework straight away she unwinds and is too tired to do it. But with a younger kids it's hard to have 1 on 1 time to do it.

The books she is supposed to read to me she finds so difficult.she refuses to even look so often get changed without us opening it.

She is really good at recognising the sound of a letter but can't blend letters to make a word. Teachers are writing in her book she needs help to blend and I've been saying she struggles with it but homework wise it seems they are powering on.

I asked to go back to unit 1 on the books with mostly 2letter words with short sentences, they agreed sent it home once the went back to where the class is at. She can't blend two letter words but is expected to read books with 3 sometimes 4 letter words in sentences up to 6 words.

I should add my child is still only 4.

Sorry for long post trying to put in all the info, is this what reception homework is like for your child?

I’m not sure that’s a lot of work? Learning some words and a book a week? Ours had a book each day but these started off without words and just pictures and were probably a few three letter words a page by Christmas? This seems to be learning some short words to read and practice writing them which is good for handwriting practice? How long are you spending on the words? What day do you get them?

Homework for four-year-olds 😞 They should be playing and relaxing when at home.

I used to teach reception and that's a lot! The best school I worked in (outstanding and great reputation) didn't even touch anything phonics related until after xmas and because the children were so ready for it then they took to it like ducks to water and did really well. Sounds like your school expects too much too soon.

My child is reception and we get less homework than that. Tbh the homework we do get I don’t make him do it if he doesn’t want to. We sound out words etc in normal life and he was keen to write the names on his Christmas cards so we did that. He can only sound single letters and can’t blend sounds. From talking with other parents I think he’s really normal.
I’m more concerned about him being happy and developing the social side of school. I don’t want it to become a chore.
I would worry less about homework, your child is only 4 and I’m sure they are fine.

With the books sent home I'd encourage you to read them to her. Don't put any pressure on for her to read to you if she's stressed by it. Use them to build enjoyment of the books in school. That's the first step towards a child learning to read. Chat about the pictures on each page, ask questions (ooh can you see someone in a red coat?) Keep it fun. Don't send them back unopened. Just play with them in a light way.

Books to look at and a few words isn't a lot. Just stick the words on the dining table and chat about them at dinner. Keep it light.

@taj0112 she gets a new reading book on a Monday and Thursday. These aren't picture books they are reading books when she can't actually read. They are expecting her to read these books to me. Up to 6 word sentences. She can't read "it" .

The words, I'm to put out sound cards and have her blend the word out to be (she can't do this)
Then after doing that will all the words I've to put out multiple flashcards and say one of the words to her and she's to pick out the flashcards in order to spell it and finally once she's done that with all words to write them - this she can do as she is copying.

@FrancescaContini I agree, I didn't expect homework at this age. After-school isn't enjoyable in our house anymore, as time passes she's resisting more and more she seems so tired after school

My son is in reception and his homework is:

Daily:

• 2 Ruth Miskin videos, one coving the letter he worked on at school that day which he is supposed to practice writing along with, the other which works on blending 4 different words.

Weekly:
1 book without words which he has to "read" to me by telling the story based on the pictures.
1 school book which I read to him.
1 "home learning challenge" which is related to their topic work and is usually stuff like "talk to your parents about what job they do" or "draw a picture to show your holiday traditions".

Fortnightly:
1 book chosen from the library

I mostly do the books and phonics in the evening. We watch the videos together and he does the writing in the air with his finger. He does lots of drawing for fun so I work on improving his pen control that way. The books aren't an issue because we read together every night anyway. The "challenges" we either do after school if they are quick and easy or at the weekend if they are more involved. Sounds like your school have much more advanced reading expectations if they are being expected to read in sentences already!

In reception, they would have 3-5 words for spellings. Same words for whole class. It wasn't dictated how they learnt them but they'd have to write them for their spelling test.

We also had maths homework and one reading book a week.

Why are you doing homework every night? Is it to get through the words?

Also have they actually got all the kids on the same level for reading? That would worry me more tbh.

I'd spend 10 minutes a night after school practicing READING the words. Model how to blend and read for her and get her to repeat.
On a weekend get her to copy the words to write them.
Reading wise, just include the book school sends for you to read with your normal nightly books (it would annoy me they'd sent those tbh)

Speak to school Jan about her literacy skills, the books being beyond her (what level are they sending home?) and if she reads at school

@firstimemamma it seems a lot to me too for that age and given its closer to 4pm by time we get home and she's so tired. I really didn't expect them to be reading so soon.

@Chunkymonkey123 in recent weeks I haven't been enforcing homework. But we have an app where were asked to upload photos etc of our child doing home learning and other activities at home... I'm very aware we don't do this very often. I've received a few "reminders".

@MyOtherProfile she gets two books at a time one for us to read to her and one for her to read to us, we usually always ready the one for me to read to her. She ironically loves a story bedtime consists of at least 4 stories. For her book i try to read some of it like we take turns but she is shutting down and won't engage anymore, it's just too difficult.

Just saw your other messages. Are there suspected learning difficulties elsewhere op? How's her numeracy? A reception child not recognising the word "it" to read it is def a concern. If school won't help with that, I'd be moving her ASAP

Another reception parent here. We get reading books home daily that we read but that’s it.

It can be a struggle to fit reading a book in with cooking / work etc so I would hate anything more than this where it can’t be more independent.

We have optional homework every few weeks that includes writing words / sounding them out etc

My DS is in reception. They haven't sent anything home for him to do in the evenings. He's learning phonics via Read Write Inc and it seems to be a long, fun introduction to phonics so they haven't even started books yet but I think he might start getting some after Xmas.
I'd try not to worry about what you think her peers are doing. Try and relax and don't spend more than 20 minutes on a task. She's so little still

Firstly don't panic, it is very common for children to find blending the words difficult, especially at this time of year in Reception. I would say forget the homework if it's stressing you all, do lots of sounding out words in normal life such as go and get your c-oa-t, let's read a b-oo-k etc oh look this word here says c-a-t cat, play games so it's not boring learning.
I'd ask the teacher again for easier books, if it's a struggle it'll just put her off.

OP I think you need to talk to her teacher. She shouldn't be made to feel she's failing. I still think you should look at the book with her that she is supposed to be reading to you - make it a success by you reading the words and her answering questions she can manage, like I suggested. Tell her she doesn't need to read it yet.

And if she can't blend at all then the focus really should be just on looking at letters and saying their sounds. Through play, light touch, no pressure. She's so young and it's the first term of reception - she absolutely won't be the only child at the same level.

@SleepingStandingUp

Just saw your other messages. Are there suspected learning difficulties elsewhere op? How's her numeracy? A reception child not recognising the word "it" to read it is def a concern. If school won't help with that, I'd be moving her ASAP

Not in the first term when she is still 4 it isn't. She should be playing and seeing books as a fun thing to share with an adult or to look at the interesting pictures in. Lots of reception children in the first term can't blend yet. They need to be secure in knowing individual phonics sounds before they can blend.

Sounds similar to what DC got 20 years ago! My main advice is not to make it like homework.
Don't sit at a table like at schools cuddle on sofa and make it special time with you, where you give her undivided attention. Maybe with a biscuit and drink. Of course you May already be doing that... but that's my best advice.

@ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings that sounds more reasonable homework than what we have.

@SleepingStandingUp it seems it is same homework for everyone, as it is uploaded to an app for us. But given my child isn't at that level they aren't all at same level. Unless she's the only one. I spoke to teacher before and asked to go back to start but happened for one book and not again, in last few weeks she's been really teary and clingy to me so in Jan I want to speak to teacher anyways since she told me on last few days of terms she's been crying at school.
There is no suspected learning difficulties. numeracy is good. Is just blending words that the issue. I'm sure when it clicks she'll be find but it ain't clicking. She knows all the sounds.

We don't do homework every night, some nights she goes to grandparents after school and doesn't get home til bedtime, or there is something on, just normal life etc but I try break the work down into smaller chunks to make it less overwhelming so then nights we are just going home with nothing else on it's a homework night.

My son started reception in September, he had only just turned 4 in August. He has a new reading book each week that we practice for about 3 evenings and then he reads it with a TA on Fridays. We are probably meant to do it every night, but he's tired and 3 times a week seems to work so that he's interested and engaged.

He can now blend up to 4 letters and recognises some tricky words like 'the'. So, from our limited experience it sounds like your daughter is doing a lot of work! Can you talk to the teacher again and adjust the expectations? It seems pointless trying to force her to read etc when she's so tired and could lessen her enjoyment of learning?

Right so if this is the only thing then school need to explain to you what they're doing to help her and support her. They're approach isn't working and they can't just ignore than at give her books of where they think she ought to be.

Can you not just spend 10 - 15 mins on the words over the weekend when she’s not so tired rather than trying to fit it in after school. From memory, at this stage in Reception my DC had 3 or 4 sounds a week to practise writing, and then write word starting with that sound.

Two reading books a week is pretty standard. Practice little and often really is the key, plus repetition.

I would recommend five minute mum on Facebook/Instagram who posts short fun games to teach little ones without them realising! All so simple, take 5 mins to set up and have really helped my little one with phonics.

Mine has sounds which he now knows, a ditty with simple words to read and hand writing practice.
We do the homework first thing in the morning before breakfast and that works well. He’s supposed to be able to spell and write the words but he can’t. We are concentrating on the reading at home during term time although we do the homework sheets for writing. We are having a push on pencil skills this holiday.

Thanks everyone for your replies, I feel it is a lot of work and even breaking it down it seems alot for her little age.
It's reassuring to know lots of other reception kids aren't even doing this yet, which I expected when she started school so was a bit surprised when she got homework.

There is some words she can say but I think she recognises the word rather than is reading it.

There is some words she can say but I think she recognises the word rather than is reading it they have to sight read some words anyway so that's not a bad thing. That was why I was surprised she didn't know "it", not because of blending but just as sight reading.

Reception at our school has the child reading 10 min everyday. They also send a book home to parents to read to the kids everyday as part of bedtime stories. On the weekends there is sometimes an optional math activity on Abacus that takes about 10 min. That’s it!

The children are learning spellings for high frequency words but only in school and there are no spelling tests until year 1.

In your situation I’d be concerned about putting her off reading by forcing her to read books that are too difficult. For now, focus on reading to her and perhaps play some phonics games like Teach Your Monster to Read that will help with letter sounds and blending. Only have her read books she can manage, even if you have to buy them yourself.

Our school’s policy is a child should be able to read 90 percent of the book themselves confidently for it to be the right level for them otherwise it’s too discouraging and sucks the fun out of reading which I totally agree with. And my daughter attends an very academically selective private school.