Homework at primary school

[Eminybob]

How important is it?

DS2 is in reception and the homework is relentless. At least 1 worksheet every day, and then 4 different reading books per week. This all needs to be done with him side by side

DS1 is in year 5 and has less, it's on the tablet and he can crack on independently but needs constant cajoling and reminding.

But it's just so hard to fit it all in. Dh and I both work full time so the boys go to breakfast and after school club, then they have activities some evenings, and at the end of the day we are all just knackered. So it slips, a lot. DS2 especially we are loads behind.

But I feel so guilty. It was different with DS1 as when he was in reception I was on mat leave so had loads of time to help him. He has done really well at school and is excelling.

Am I disadvantaging DS2 by not taking as much time on homework with him?

As a primary school teacher I can say that one worksheet per night for reception is ridiculous! What are they on ?
4 reading books is also silly. Do you know what phonics scheme they use?

In comparison...
My Yr6 child gets one maths revision sheet and one English revision sheet a week.

Shes predicted Greater Depth across the board in her SATs.

This is the first year shes had homework other than spelling, times tables and reading.

1 worksheet a day for reception? That's crazy.

DS1 is in reception and they get one book a week. That's it.

His books are bug club. Is that the phonics scheme?

I think it depends. Some dc need to extra revision to learn phonics, reading etc. Some get by on doing the bare minimum. We were quite relaxed with homework early on and often did not do it. Dc learned phonics completely at school. When they felt ready, we picked up the reading (usually towards the end of reception). Once they were ready, they quickly flew through the reading. GDS in all for both. If your dc is doing well in school I think it can be relaxed. However, if they are struggling for anything, then you need to focus on it.

Do schools which set less homework perhaps do more in class so they don't need to send work home?

To be honest, the teachers are pretty relaxed about it, it's my internal mum guilt which is the problem.

Just don't do it all. Give masses of attention in other ways - education happens through play a lot at that age.

Tell the teacher you're not doing it all as you think it is putting him off learning.

He seems to be doing OK. No concerns from the teachers. They know we struggle with homework

DS is reception and also gets a lot. He does read write inc so gets two phonics books (purple) 3/4 times a week, plus library book, plus RM easimaths min 1hr a week, plus handwriting/sentences sheets. We do what we can, he's doing well and we read with him every day. We use learning opportunities in life, he goes to plenty of museums, theatre etc. They also get things like build a story in a jar as homework.
I don't worry about not doing it all all of the time because he's doing well academically and his teacher said at recent parent's evening that he's full of facts and very curious about the world, he's also kind and has strong friendships.
My niece struggled at that age and the push to do extra practice has really put her off school

Mine got a worksheet a week or online based learning in reception. They had to read every night for 10 minutes in reception rising to 30 in year 6. The amount of books depended on the pace of reading.

Now my year 6 gets a maths worksheet a week (double sided SATS work) some also get handwriting/spelling. They also have online learning every 2 weeks which is around a hour a weeks worth of work so very manageable.

I did get some extra with one of my children when they struggled with phonics but I asked for the work to support at home. It does sound like an excessive amount but I would communicate this to school. If this is the feeling with a lot of parents then you may find many aren't/can't do it. It's worth dropping the teacher a e mail.

Goodness that's alot.

My son is in reception and we are asked to read his reading book 5 times a week (2 different books) and practice writing but are not give specific tasks around this.

My son is in primary 2 (he's 6) he has one reading book a week and occasionally a task to do. Not that often to be fair. 4 books a week is ridiculous.

At that age the only really important homework is reading as they don't have time to do ir much in school. We didn't get anywhere near that amount in primary until year 6. I also wouldn't always make them do it. So concentrate on the reading and don't worry about anything else.

Sounds like it varies so much from school to school. Surely it should be consistent across the board.

I think I'll just try and concentrate our efforts more on reading for the time being.

That’s a ridiculous amount. I teach year 1 and send home two reading books a week (expectation is to only read a couple of pages a day), 5 spelling words and one 15 minute maths activity.
Parents have access to all our topic knowledge organisers and can optionally do research but this is in no way expected.
The reading is always the most important. The maths is more for parents to know what we’ve been learning.

That seems excessive. Ours doesn't set homework, just a book to read at home each week (free choice now we're in Year 3 but it was a phonics one previously).

DD is greater depth in almost all subjects.

Our Primary did not do homework until Y3, other than the reading Biff, Chip & Kipper. We had a pushy year and they did end up having a lot of sheets with "suggested activities" for the parents competing with each other but it wasn't compulsory. Very little evidence that stressing tired kids out after school makes them happier to learn. Just do the reading and anything the teacher specifically mentions in the parents evening.

My youngest is in year 2. He reads every night and every half term they get a list of homework 'projects' and they choose two. My eldest is in year 5, she has daily reading and the 2 homework projects and spellings every week. That's all.

I read in the morning with mine as they were too tired in the evening after clubs etc.

It did require a sustained effort but it was easier once in the routine.

Do the whole class get the same or is your child struggling?

When mine were in reception we read daily, plus did some phonics play/cards/wrote them in playdough or paint if we had time. I appreciate most people can't do this though!!

What are the worksheets about? Is it phonics based? I'd say as a minimum you'd be needing to read every weekday (this can be a few pages not the whole book!) And a couple of quick phonic cards sounds if they send those home. Could afterschool Club encourage the worksheet to be done quickly if it's simple? Sounds a bit intense though tbh!

My year 5 has to read daily, practice spellings (written) daily, maths x3 per week and the weekends is either 1 or 2 pieces. I hate it, they get in trouble if not done and it rules our life every day. But obviously at this age it's more independent. It's harder with reception and year 1s as you have to sit with them and they are tired.
My year 3 is the same but her teacher doesn't enforce it at all so we are more laid back if it's not done.