Homework in Reception - Too much!

[Mrsm010918]

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!

I'm really surprised at the homework your child is getting already. It just sounds like a recipe for stress. Mine started a few weeks ago and so far the focus really has been on getting them settled. They've given us an introduction to phonics, and told us to read with them every day for fun for now and that soon books will start going home and within that will be some phonics work. They have said not to worry about writing it yet as focus on the reading first and that will come.

We've had similar (DS also just started in reception), although it is a private school. Fortunately he loves doing the homework so we can blitz through a decent amount of writing, maths, or whatever worksheets he's been sent home with after dinner each night. However he hates to be read to, so that's a challenge. We've finally settled on a short book, or a chapter from a longer book, at bedtime. They can only tolerate so much at this age 🤷‍♀️

I have a DD who has just started YR and I have been surprised by the amount of homework so far. I am only just coming to terms with the minimal time I now have with her and it feels like far too much of that limited time is being spent trying to encourage her to do homework. She's sooo tired - she spends enough time learning in school. I want her time with us to be unpressured and relaxing.

Added to that, I am a teacher and homework has always infuriated me. I want to raise and teach children who are able to find a balance in life and prioritise their mental well-being. There is only so much studying a person can do in a day, we preach about Quality First Teaching in schools but now we need to trust teachers and listen to the evidence.

I think reading as often as possible is important and makes a difference - everything else is just wasted time for everyone concerned.

Apart from daily reading there is no homework for my son and he's in year 1!

Surely numbers, shapes and reading are the sort of things parents do with their children anyway throughout the course of the day? Writing seems a bit excessive, but I suppose it's consolidating skills they're learning at school and a good life skill. None of it seems like pointless homework for the sake of it, I'd just send a note in/speak to the teacher and say the writing is too much or something. Realistically what are they going to do?

We had 4 days just doing the morning and then it was into full time on the Friday and her first book sent home that week 😅 it really does appear to vary greatly from school to school

Just do what you feel comfortable with. We did the bare minimum with homework and spent more time playing outside. I read to the kids of course before bed, but we had a really relaxed approach and dc are doing well...gds in all during primary and eldest just started in an academic secondary. I do not think you have to drill your dc at an early age to be successful. Early on we just focused on playing outside, spending time with friends and being creative (painting, drawing, play doh or clay). However, if I felt they needed an extra push or were falling behind, I would have stepped it up with the writing and drilling etc. But they were doing fine so we just kept what we were doing.

That does seem like a lot. We just got a reading book for DC to read to us every day (changed 2 X per week) and were supposed to do at least 10 minutes of parent reading any other story book to DC each night. No writing practice.

There was the odd suggested maths activity here and there, but never had to send anything back for teacher to mark or anything.

That sounds excessive. My children’s school achieves incredibly highly and they are a low homework school for primary. In reception we would have only had reading. My youngest has just started and she has had nothing. We will get the wordless books soon and then reading will start once they are secure with blending and initial phonics.

When they are so little and still learning how to function at school it seems incredibly ott to be sending home writing homework especially as so many of them will need to strengthen their fingers and work on gross motor skills first.

My DD was a reception teacher for a few years and never, ever set homework other than go to the park.

She was outstanding in her setting while the rest of the school were needs improvement.

Do what bits you want and ignore the rest. Western schooling is based on the worker model, training children to comply and take work home. It's unnecessary.

And having done a lot of reception home learning during covid… the early writing skills were built by finger writing in glitter or flour, they did a ton of playdoh based stuff to strengthen fingers. They were very big on the importance of play. The teachers wanted to make it fun. I don’t think there was ever a worksheet in reception for writing. Lots by y2 but it was all very play based in reception. it is incredibly counterproductive to put a 4yo off writing through too much homework. Build a love of reading then everything else follows.

Maybe think of it in terms of time rather than volume. So for 15 minutes we'll do something maths related and a few lines of writing. The maths thing can be hands on, a board game, anything related to the topic. And then a few lines of writing. And then you can read to her at bed time. And you stop at the 15 minute mark no matter how little or how much she's done.
That way you get into a habit of doing little and often, and as she settles in and her stamina increases, she can slowly start doing more.

And the 15 minutes of 'work' doesn't have to be in the worksheet format. You can teach the same thing in different ways (lots of ppl have given good ideas on this thread). If she then wants to transfer that skill to a worksheet that's fine, but it's about just reinforcing some of those skills.

Just don't do it

Ours were the same. No homework. Still managed top sets at high school with of others

I think reception was the worst year for homework so far. Dc is year 4 now.
We use to split it over after school and in the morning. While I was cooking dinner dc did the maths, writing and phonics. Breakfast we did reading or phonics. Phonics was the easiest bit to do because you can verbally fit it in anywhere. Would sometimes do it before story at bedtime as well. Once you have a routine established it gets easier. Also, until Oct they are so tired. Learning and playing is hard work.

If your dc starts to properly kick off. Just stop there or switch to a different exercise for the evening (you may have to push those boundaries otherwise it becomes learned behaviour) once cortisol starts building they won't learn anything and homework shouldn't be stressful.

Limit screens after school. It over stimulates an already over tired and over stimulated child. If you do use screens try to give it as a reward after homework is complete not before theybwont want to stop watching tv to do work. We would have to do homework as soon as we were in. Homework plus snack time.

We also had 'tea time talk' 3 things we would have to discuss over dinner. This at times felt unnecessary, bit was actually one of the most beneficial pieces of homework.

I'm a Reception teacher and this is not only too much but it's not developmentally appropriate. We only ask that they read at least 3 times a week (daily is preferable but we understand sometimes feels too much pressure). We do encourage parents read to their child for pleasure daily (bedtime stories etc) even if they're not engaging with the phonics books every day

All areas are different but most of my pupils can't even hold a pencil properly yet, hence my 'not developmentally appropriate' comment.

Ultimately, you could just choose not to do it as no homework this age should be compulsory. However, I do understand you feel pressured to at least try. I suggest making it fun but letting her form the letters in things like flour, paint, shaving foam etc with her finger. She's still practising letter formation but will probably be keener to try and more likely to engage. You can send them photos if they use an online platform such as Tapestry, to show you're still engaging with the home learning in a way which better suits your child.

At the end of the day, it's their job to 'teach' your child. Homework should only ever enhance and practise what is already happening in school. Enjoyment is key. If she's not enjoying it, you stop and/or find a different way. Otherwise it risks putting them off completely, as you have sadly found.

I can't emphasise just how grateful I am to have found this thread. What everyone has shared here speaks so much to our experience as a family, which has become overwhelming.

We have 3 kids all at the same (Wandsworth) state primary. My eldest boy (9) is high functioning ASD, my middle (6) is a sensitive boy and my youngest (5) is a girl. This year, she began reception and it feels like she has an absurd about of homework - way more than my eldest had at the same school, 4 years ago. This week my middle one burst into tears during homework, saying he couldn't understand why he found it all so hard (maths) - he's one of the youngest in his year and gets no support which is to be expected with 30+ kids. He really struggles to understand the concepts and as both myself & hubby work full-time, what little time we have in the evenings & weekends, we want to enjoy our time with them, not sit around doing homework and creating negative tension at home.

My daughter has also started to ask if she can stay home sometimes, as she misses me. When I try chat with her about it to better understand her emotions and reasons, she often says the day is so long. I can't work out if this again has to do with so much pressure being put on them.

My stepmum often remarks on how she can't understand how much homework primary school pupils have these days - during her school days they had none at all. She also pointed out that back then, the school days were longer - finishing around 4pm, so she's wondering whether this accounts for why there is so much homework - families & carers are expected to fill in the blanks. If that's the case, I find it all very unfair and unrealistic for the children & families. I agree with so many here who say they're only young once and to enjoy this time. I hate the fact that my son is so upset and under pressure like this, in year 2 - it's utterly mad.

I've tried to ask around other parents at our school to suss out if anyone else feels the same way, but I've been really disheartened with what feels like most giving the impression that "I think its great!" - I can't work out if it's just putting on appearances. It doesn't sit right with me.

Anyway, thank you everyone here. Just knowing we're not alone feels nice.

DS is year 1. We do everything in the morning, as he is fresh as a daisy. After school, he's exhausted and just wants to eat.

Homework is a divisive issue. A friend of mine complains that our school doesn't give written homework (in year 3 to 6 they get online tasks to do plus spellings and reading) and they will fall behind compared to other local schools that do so from year 1. Other parents moan there is too much homework! I guess it depends on your child too. My eldest loves to write and would complete written tasks for fun even in Reception. My youngest is in Reception now and trying to get him to write some Christmas cards was like pulling teeth!