So just in theory, what would happen to a child who never does his/her homework?

[emkana]

Because in Germany where I'm from it would probably lead to bad grades, which could ultimately lead to the child having to repeat a year.

But here, I'm not sure what repercussions it could really have?

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It depends on the school. My ds's are very strict on the homework side. Some state school's don't tend to push it as much. You should ask the school what their policy is.

School would be annoyed but not generally a lot else I think. Can't see why primary school children need homework either.

so tempting really not to bother... I mean don't get me wrong I'm very happy to practise reading and numeracy, but some of the homework seems so POINTLESS

In dc's junior school the children are made to stay in at breaktime and do the work. The argument being that they need to get through it to do their learning. Ds has had to do this when he lost his homework and I have to been happy to support the school with this precise argument.
In infant school, there were no repercussions.

Hi. I'm a primary teacher and it does depend on the school. We give h/w to all the children starting in reception with reading and phonics going right up to Year 6 who get a an hour or so a week to do (helps prepare them for secondary homework). We found that generally parents WANT their children to have homework, however it should be relevant to what the children are learning in class and further/consolidate their learning. All schools that give homework should have a homework policy which can be accessed by parents. I worked in an inner city school and we had homework clubs for those children who couldn't for one reason or another do it at home.

I'm tempted to buy Alfie Kohn's book, 'The Homework Myth:Why our kids get too much of a bad thing' ...

www.alfiekohn.org/books/hm.htm

Has anyone read it? There are some other interesting books looking on his website too

They would have to spend lunchtime doing it-not very pleasant when everyone else is out to play.

Well our infant school (age 4-7) doesn't do homework, so it can't be that bad. It does feel odd that other children seem to get this extra stuff at home to reinforce what they have learned at school, and mine don't, but looking at the SATs scores, our school gets 40%+ level 3's at KS1, so something must be working .

Seriously, there is (apparently) research that shows homework in the primary years doesn't influence outcomes. That seems odd to me, surely more time looking at stuff must be good?, but no homework is apparently the new good thing...

I am not at ALL surprised that homework for 4-7 year olds doesn't influence outcomes.

That is probably because from most of what I can see, the homework needs an adult to do most of it for them at that age

I suppose I can see some value in practising reading/spellings and some basic numeracy at this age (little and often) but anything else seems a waste of time to me unless the child actually wants to do it and is asking to work on the latest school project at home etc.

in response to op-

i would collect him from school and say hello son?

he always loses his homework list and teacher doesnt seem bothered

mind you teacher spelled lots with an apostrophe in note last week

oh dear

I've got a 5 yr old and a 7 yr old in school - so far homework has only consisted of reading, spellings and tables. That's plenty imo.

even my sn 4 year old gets homework, way beyond him though

ds1- 8- supposed to do hour a night

I don't think children under the age of 11 should get any homework personally but I know this puts me in a very lazy laid- back category of parent.

Well, when you say homework, I DO just mean spellings and tables etc. My children get one reading book a week (not every week), and that is it really. They certainly don't get spellings to learn or maths or tables. They don't have spelling or maths tests at school either - and seem to learn by osmosis.

I wouldn't want them coming home with any other kind of homework at their age, but I did expect regular reading and spellings tbh. Hwr, they DO seem to be be doing really well without it, so I can be thankful they can spend their time doing more interesting things

Listersister - are you in the UK because if you are - Where?
I want to move there so ds can go to school.

With you Lazycow and Lister... homework at primary (and secondary IMO but that's another story) is just ridiculous.

5 hours of school is plenty - let them chill out and play at home!

Yes, UK, South. Kind of 'right on' place .

It may be that my guys don't get homework because they don't 'need' it. I am aware that some in their classes come out with execise books, but it is certainly very low key., and likek I said, I have never seen or heard of a test of any kind

I don't think a lot happens in infants at my son's school. In juniors children who don't do their homework have to do their homework in golden time.