Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Homework in Reception - Too much!

45 replies

Mrsm010918 · 19/09/2023 19:11

So, my DD is 5 (September baby) and just started in reception and I'm already feeling overwhelmed by the amount of homework they are sending home.

We have a term length maths homework task which is pretty basic I.e learn how to count to 20, identify basic shapes etc. No problems with this, can work the knowledge into everyday conversations with her and make it fun.

There's also the expectation that we read everyday, again no problems as we always read at bedtime anyway, although they've been sending 3 books across the course of a week which they've requested we complete.

My main issue is the writing! They're learning how to write their letters and have been sent home with a workbook with templates for them to write whatever letters they have covered in lines. I've been trying to get DD to sit and just write a few at a time but all in all they've demanded (and it is a demand based on the daily reminders that it needs doing) that the 16 lines worth of letters are completed within a week and DD is getting very bored very quickly and refusing to do much.

I'm struggling a little to fit it into each day once we're all home and have had dinner around 6pm and some time to chill out before bed at 7.30pm; and after a day at school DD isn't too enthusiastic about sitting down to do the writing.

She's my first so not had experience with primary schools and homework and can't really remember from when I was that young; does this amount of homework sound normal at this age? And any tips for encouraging her to write more than 4 letters at a time are welcome!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

fishfingersandtoes · 19/09/2023 19:14

It's fairly normal, but madness nonetheless!
My DD was August born and really just not up to the reception homework so we ignored it.

Stressfordays · 19/09/2023 19:15

That sounds an unusual amount. All 3 of mine just had reading (I didn't do it every single day either) and some flash cards. Occasionally came home with a maths or letters work sheet but not even every week.

It ramped up to 1 English and 1 maths work sheet plus reading and spellings in year 1 and continued like that until year 5/6 where you did sats prep.

Wibblywobblylikejelly · 19/09/2023 19:16

I wont be doing any homework in primary at all outside the eisteddfod.
They need to be resting at that age after school.
Just contact the teacher and let her know this will no longer be happening.

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 19/09/2023 19:16

Is this a State school? We had this but it was a private school. I wish I hadn’t done it TBH.

Orangewall · 19/09/2023 19:16

It does seem excessive. In reception DD was only required to read the phonics learner book as much as possible (which got OLD very quickly!) which was changed weekly. She’s just started Y1 and ‘homework’ has so far extended to reading phonics books weekly and practicing writing her name in cursive letters.

ReeseWitherfork · 19/09/2023 19:18

DS has just started and has had no homework. (And it’s an ofsted outstanding school if that makes a difference?) We’ve had one library book which they wanted back ten days later, no checking to see if we had read it. And we get told what the “sounds of the day” are and have had some tips for phonics (games to play, YouTube videos to watch); but no strict instructions to actually do anything.

mynameiscalypso · 19/09/2023 19:18

Just don't do it. My DS is in reception too and school are going to start doing 'homework' at half term but they've made it very clear that it's optional and if we do it, not to spend more than 5 mins on it. The Deputy Head's exact words were 'they're not this age for long, enjoy every minute of it'.

modgepodge · 19/09/2023 19:18

That does seem a lot.

my daughter is the same age and so far we’ve had one double sided letter formation worksheet, which was last Wednesday so I assume another will arrive tomorrow , and a wordless book to look at every night for a week.

frankly I’d welcome more reading books, but the writing practice is plenty.

woodyscowboyhat · 19/09/2023 19:19

Normal for our school, in foundation stage we would get a writing piece, maths piece, reading and then something that covered a relevant topic eg make a picture and label it about a season. Normal village primary.

AristotlesHamSandwiches · 19/09/2023 19:22

It’s madness. I have it in my children’s school too. Plus they use Seesaw and Teams and it’s all very complicated to follow. Plus in some cases it’s stuff they can’t do, have not done in class, and so it’s not me “reinforcing” but actually teaching them, or trying to. Like you, Reception was the worst and the pace was a joke. Three new sounds a week, writing, reading, phonics, Mathletics etc

The school can point to it all as evidence of how they’re driving up standards.

In reality what driving up standards like like in my house is nagging, tears, battles……

According to the school they know how precious family time is and how tired the pupils are in the evening.

I really hate the user of Teams with primary school children. It makes even an able and motivated child reliant on the parent and their device to get started.

TeenDivided · 19/09/2023 19:23

Do things at the breakfast table.
Much easier when they are fresh in the morning than when tired in the evening.

Covidwoes · 19/09/2023 19:25

That does seem a lot. All my DD got in reception was reading, which was great! Some schools go in really full on unfortunately. Definitely speak to the teacher if it continues to be an issue.

welshweasel · 19/09/2023 19:25

We have a page of letter formation a day, so they have to trace the letter a few times then do a few freehand. One letter each day. Plus a few words to sound out. No reading books until after halfterm.

Schools can't win - if they set homework parents will complain, if they don't then parents will complain. I'd do it if you want to but there shouldn't be tears over it.

darkspotontimber · 19/09/2023 19:28

Wibblywobblylikejelly · 19/09/2023 19:16

I wont be doing any homework in primary at all outside the eisteddfod.
They need to be resting at that age after school.
Just contact the teacher and let her know this will no longer be happening.

This. All the research shows that at primary age homework ( outside of reading with parents) makes no difference to attainment. Instead it causes tensions at home, and takes time away from family, friends, play, their own interests and relaxing.

Original poster

Mrsm010918 · 19/09/2023 19:29

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 19/09/2023 19:16

Is this a State school? We had this but it was a private school. I wish I hadn’t done it TBH.

State school. When I met the teachers before she started they said that they assign a bunch of tasks for homework and we could pick a couple to complete over the space of a term so this has come as a bit of a shock!

OP posts:

Original poster

Mrsm010918 · 19/09/2023 19:32

TeenDivided · 19/09/2023 19:23

Do things at the breakfast table.
Much easier when they are fresh in the morning than when tired in the evening.

Thanks for the idea, hadn't thought about trying in the morning. Usually I'm getting DD plus 3m DS fed, dressed and ready to go. DP starts work at 6 so he can't really help at the start of the day unfortunately but might be able to squeeze some time in for her to sit down if I sort out uniform night before etc

OP posts:

YoBeaches · 19/09/2023 19:32

My dd 4 (July born) just started also and has her term work plus the reading. Today she brought her first 2 books home tonight.

She was so hungry, even though she had tea at after school club that I made her dinner separate and we sat and ate and read the books and did some exercises. 20 mins total.

I actually only plan to do this on the days she isn't in after school club, because I think it's too much. I'm really focusing on her not being scared and sad going to school as it's been such a big change for her. Her emotional development is where support is needed right now.

In time she'll relish all this I'm sure.

BlowOuttheCandles · 19/09/2023 19:35

This happened for us too, pages and pages of letters, some worksheets with letters & colouring in too; my child hated colouring in! They would give loads more for school holidays too, it was ridiculous. When ds told me his hand hurt and got really upset, I realised this is too much and started doing them with him! The only thing that was all him was the flashcards! He is now exceeding expectations so it didn't do him any harm. I feel they benefit more with resting and unwinding; they need downtime. They have been writing loads at school, so the last thing they need is to do more of it when they get home! I thought the extra we had was because of covid, but evidently not.

Original poster

Mrsm010918 · 19/09/2023 19:36

welshweasel · 19/09/2023 19:25

Schools can't win - if they set homework parents will complain, if they don't then parents will complain. I'd do it if you want to but there shouldn't be tears over it.

I don't mind them setting homework at all, obviously if things are practised then children will get better at doing them. Just feels a bit intense at the moment I think as it's my first experience of school

OP posts:

BlowOuttheCandles · 19/09/2023 19:40

We also got a library book to read together and record in the diary. It was abit annoying as we had loads of books at home that we preferred more. It is a really good idea for kids with not many books though. I was sick of bringing the homework bag to and from school every bloody day too, there's enough to carry!

BlowOuttheCandles · 19/09/2023 19:43

I also think it's a way for the school to share responsibility with the parents "little Timothy didn't do well, oh you aren't doing enough at home." There is a phenomenon amount of pressure on schools and attainment, this is definately reflected in the unrealistic amount of homework they get. I was relieved when we got to year 1/2 and just received a book for ds to read!

Rachaelrachael · 19/09/2023 19:44

Crikey that seems a bit excessive. My 4 year old started in September and we've had no homework so far. I think they said it'll be a good few weeks before homework starts.

Flockameanie · 19/09/2023 19:47

We’ve never had homework at our primary. This is because there is no evidence to support the benefit of homework in primary school (there have been studies done on this). Beyond reading daily. And ours also request we practice times tables if/when we can.

BendingSpoons · 19/09/2023 19:50

My DS hasn't even started full days yet! He hasn't brought a reading book (or any book) home yet, although he will do soon. My DD went to the same school and had just reading in Reception. From half way through year 1 they started spellings and times tables. I think they sometimes sent handwriting practise home but DD had always done loads at school. I think it is too much this early on when they are exhausted at the end of the day. FWIW my kids school gets good results so less homework doesn't seem to be doing them any harm.

MindatWork · 19/09/2023 19:56

That sounds crazy! My DD has just started reception (hasn’t even done a week of full days yet) and we’ve not had anything home from school. I keep expecting a book home in the book bag but nothing yet.

DD is exhausted when she gets home, I don’t think I’d get much concentration out of her!

Flip

1 2