Reception children are not to be given work sheets to practice at home.....?

[saintpeta]

I asked for some photocopies for my son on a friday so that we could compliment what he does at school to be told they are banned from giving out handouts because it puts too much pressure on the kids. My child loves doing writing,drawing,number work so i didn't see a problem with asking but they said no-only 10 mins reading a night is enough...what do other parents think?

you may have got the wrong end of the stick a little.

DS1 is in reception, he has homework (reading book every other day and writing twice a week)but the teachers won't give out more even if you ask for it

I agree with the school - homework, bar reading, just is not necessary in reception - not even spellings!

Your child can still do writing, drawing and number work at home - give her pens and paper and let her do her ow thing. Last year, in reception, DD would spend ages making mini books in her bedroom for example - not homework, just playing.

At DD's prep school in Reception the only homework given out was reading every night - their current book sent home each day having already read the first couple of pages with the teacher that day. No specific amount to be read; just advised to read daily.

Now DD loves readigng and often did a book a night. As they got more challenging it would perhaps take a couple of nights. And if the teacher flet that the class had enough on at any time (for example if she knew there was a big class party that night) she used to not send it home, as she knew most children would be tired and want to rest. Perfect approach IMO

Now she is in Y1 we get more homework, but still nothing too challenging. And you know what? The academic and social achievements/success at the school are excellent - so it obviosuly doesn't hold them back, not having homework set in Reception

interesting to see others opinions...as well as real life and learning through play I personally don't see anything wrong with any worksheets as long as the child wants to do it-I'm with oliveoil ...the impression i get from those who are against it is that you think it is too much pressure-but if the child thinks its fun and likes doing stuff...what is the real problem? I never force him to do anything he doesn't want just leave out the sheet and encourage/show him to do it -like everything else that we teach our kids. Perhaps because i have been a college lecturer i have seen the other side of when kids have no respect/study skills or pride in their education i'm starting early!

Avoiding inappropriate teaching materials for reception children does not turn them into hooligans, you know - in fact it's more likely to be the other way round. Too much pressure = rebellion later on.

There are lots of other things your son could be doing that would broaden his education and reinforce literacy/numeracy in a more creative manner. If you insist on worksheets, fine, but don't have a go at the school for being sensible.

Edam I can't stress enough that my son is not under pressure and if he were i would see it and know about it. I am not having a go at the school either just asking your opinion. There are already lots of things he is doing to broaden his literacy and numeracy. I am quite comfortable with his pace and he is a happy child! I do think you have to follow what your child would like to do to a certain extent though.

Oh, I wasn't doubting that, saintpeta! Think I said further down the thread that ds rather likes this sort of stuff. Just a bit taken aback at the idea that there was any connection with (some) kids having no respect.

sorry should have checked your other comments first!

Worksheets for five year olds?

Jeezlouise, isn't that rather killing off their nascent enthusiasm for learning at a rather tender age?

I do a Bit Of Reading (when I remember) with my reception age child. She seems to be doing splendidly, and happily goes off and writes things like MY SISDU IS HORABLE on any available surface. This approach doesn't seem to have damaged her seven year old sisdu sister either.

They're far too busy playing/seeing their mates/occasionally reading a book for homework, dammit.

any homework at primary school age is shocking

surely enough of a stress having school 5 days a week in the first place?

I think that the school is quite right, they don't want more than reading, the school day is very long for that age child. There is plenty that you can do at home such as play games.

The verb is practise, btw, sorry, it's been grating on me for a few days now!

Things we do at home.

1. go through sounds with the movements -loves this
2. begining to blend the sounds together to read a few simple words -he thinks he's amazing and is now spotting the owrds he can 'read' in the books dh and I read to him
3. Make up silly sentences such as 'My teacher's cats is a very -ds loves this as he can be a silly as he likes!
4. He likes to see me write. He doesn't like to write himself at all or even do any drawing colouring in so I don't meake him. He likes me to write so I write what he asks and he's beginning to make up some fab stories.
5. We spot letters in numberplates and numbers. 'Who can find an 'a'? Who can find the number after 5. He's 4 and loves cars so he likes this.

Work sheets are dull but I can understand that a child may want to learn sounds/letters as my ds does. He's just about to go into reception -sept this year and is really ready to learn so we do stuff with him. This may last a few weeks it may carry on.

Terrible post, must proof read more!

My dd has a homework book that comes home on a Friday with some kind of worksheet / activity to complete. She loves seeing what it is and also looking through her book back at what's gone before. I was shocked when it came home (Easter) with a sheet for each day of the holidays but we seem to get on well with it now and its a nice record of how she's coming along.

Have you tried going on the BBC Schools website? there are some printables and other activities on there that she also loves doing.

I think it is important that reception age learn through play as a whole but if part of that 'play' is practicing writing / letter formation etc than encourage it.

Teachers don't seem to be all that wild about it either.

The problem with homework is knowing who actually does it. At the best work sheets help develop some fine more skills at the worst they bore children silly. I rarely use them in class never mind send them home.