"Please tick here if you would like your Y1 child to receive homework...

[jaamy]

...because it takes a long time to plan and mark homework..."

Almost the exact wording in a letter from DD's Y1 teacher. Is this normal? From a bit of asking around I haven't found this anywhere else. The "homework" is just a project, last half term was making an Alien, this half term is growing a plant so nothing too taxing. They also get a book sent home over the weekend. To me it sounds like the teacher is just being lazy, please someone tell me otherwise.

BTW, the projects are the same as they were last year so not much planning required there!

I know- all these parents in collusion! As long as he reads the back pages of the paper that'll do for me!

Jaamy - it doesnt get any better as they get older!

In Yr 1 we got a reading book - which we usualy took a week to read. Spellings - 10 words all on a theme - given on a Monday for a test on Friday, and then a worksheet at the weekend - usually took 15 mins tops spread over the weekend, as DD has the attention span of a nat! We always got the work back and the spelling test back sowe could see how she had done. With comments or stamps as appropriate!

In Yr 2 we got a bit more, but the teacher was stricter.

In Yr 3 we are now getting 15 spellings and 5 words to find the meanings of (so practicing use of the dictionary - good IMO!) in a special spelling book where you have 3 attempts to practice the words in the book. This usually takes 5 mins a night. We sometimes get a maths worksheet - 5 mins, and possibly one at a weekend. Reading is supposed to be every night - we are on chapter books so do one chapter a night unless she wants to do more.

It is a poor situation though where you are given a choice of homework or not, so many will choose not to have homework as they cant be bothered. I do wonder whether there is any point in homework at this tender age, but at least it gets them into the habit of doing work at home.

Another good reason to move Jaamy as all schools are different!

What fun, Andi!

TBH, it's not the homework that DD1 is getting that is the issue it's the inconsistency and the fact that the teacher doesn't really seem bothered. I'm sure she would be shocked to hear me say this and I think that because it's quite a poor performing school (concentrating more on the pastoral side), she is just not used to parents taking an interest.

cece - I'm shocked that they keep your DD in if she hasn't done the reading. How old is she? If she's not done the reading, surely it's an issue to be taken up with you and not your DD. Assuming she's of an age where she still needs help with her reading. I also hate teachers banging on about punctuality to the children. I am perpetually late and since DD1 is only 5 and cannot get to school by herself, if she is late it is my fault, not hers. I have friends (at different school) where the children are kept in for tardiness.

jaamy - my DD is in Year 4 and a confident fluent reader so it is not really an issue (as in that she is behind with her reading). That was one of the many points that I made in the stiff letter I sent in the next day!

The lateness thing bugs me, I have a 20 min bus journey to school (45 mins walk, DS2 chronic asthma can't manage it), relying on public transport is awful, They get shirty with the parents in FS, Yr1 & Yr2, but once they get into Yr3, they get kept in at break if they get there after the door is locked (at 9am sharp). How is it my 7 yo DS1's fault if no bus turns up for 30 mins?? I leave at the same time EVERY day, he has NEVER been late through being 'naughty' OR me oversleeping, only ever if the buses are not running right...

Ds gets homework, but just one sheet every few weeks. He loves doing it.They all do.

Ahhh! The myth of the value of homework. Half the "experts" say it helps children; the other half say that it doesn't help. Schools usually set homework because their LEAs insist on it and to keep parents quiet. The best homework for your Y1 child is for you to read to and listen to your child read and, if you really feel you must, practise basic arithmetic, eg pairs of numbers that make 10.