School complaint help (5books in 10weeks)

Hellocatshome · 12/11/2023 21:19

Am I missing something? Why not read some books from home?

SgtJuneAckland · 12/11/2023 21:22

What age is P1 and what kind of books are we talking about? On the surface of it a different novel every two weeks could be fine

SgtJuneAckland · 12/11/2023 21:26

Hold on I just googled, that's reception 4/5 year olds. How many books do you think they should be reading? Do they have library books in addition to the phonics based stuff? DS has a sound blending book seems to be one/two a week which is just singular CVC words so more blending practice than anything else, a short story book with CVC words that seems to change every week to two weeks , then chooses a school library book for us to read with him every week. We also have loads of books at home and read with him every night. That seems ample for a 4 year old to me, but if I break it down he changes his reading book every 1-2 weeks.

User56785 · 12/11/2023 21:26

Read your own books and set your own homework if that's something that is important to you.

Perhaps the school aren't setting homework as it's not seen as valuable. Or maybe they don't want the children to practise sounds at home because it can be detrimental to how the sounds are taught at school.

Quite often homework is managed so tightly by parents that it is completely pointless. I don't need to know what Susan's dad knows about dung beetles.

Your child should be reading with you every day, but it does not have to be a book provided by someone else.

Dorriethelittlewitch · 12/11/2023 21:42

That's more homework than my p1 has had (and definitely more than her brother got in p1).

I think homework is contentious. My children go to a small village school with parents from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. I had presumed the majority of their peers did the homework but from discussions in the class group chat, I was wrong. The reasons (that I am aware of) are complex but giving more is not the answer.

Set homework of your own? That's what I do. Want xbox time, read me a book or do a page of maths. Look things up (supervised for dc1 and with my help for dc2), take trips to museums and galleries at weekends/holidays.

Veryverycalmnow · 12/11/2023 21:44

What do you hope a higher authority will do? These kids are young. I think if you read with your child anyway and support their interests this is enough for now.

elapaosnabsndl · 12/11/2023 21:47

Good lord 🤦‍♀️

Sdpbody · 12/11/2023 21:49

My DD in reception gets 5 books a week and they change them on a Friday. Over half term, we had 8 books for 2 weeks. They are read to daily.

ElliePhant28 · 12/11/2023 22:14

Our primary school had a no homework policy for every school year. They felt it was important for children to have extra curricular activities rather than the stress of having to do homework and clubs. I think it's proven that focussing on play at such a young age is extremely beneficial. A book a fortnight and 10 words/sounds seems ok to me. You could read to them yourself. The English teacher at secondary school told me that this is one of the best things parents can do.

backtowinter · 12/11/2023 22:31

P1? That sounds like plenty of homework. Poor child.

If you genuinely want to complain go onto your LA website and lodge a complaint.

SPSO won't look at anything until it's been through the LA process

Callisto1 · 13/11/2023 12:42

The head is ignoring you because you're making totally unreasonable demands.

Your child won't develop a love of books if they are forced to read CVC books every day. Much better to read fun stuff together so they enjoy it.

Leftphalange100 · 13/11/2023 12:44

Let your child be a child. There will be plenty of homework at the teenage years. A little at this stage is all they need.

Funderthighs · 13/11/2023 12:48

Take a fortnightly trip to your local library and let your child choose some books. There’ll be a much better selection than what’s available in school and it will broaden your child’s depth of knowledge.

Undunne · 13/11/2023 12:49

In p1 they will be learning all day as well as doing that stuff that's been sent home. They are still so little I don't think they need to be set any more homework and reading.

There's nothing stopping you doing extra reading and stuff with your child at home though is there? Why does it have to be provided by school? Plenty of free worksheets online and books on the library!

BMrs · 13/11/2023 13:10

I work at a college and I really disagree with homework for primary ages children. We read a lot, so crafts etc but I hate when he has assigned homework.

Fluffee · 13/11/2023 17:32

I am a P1 teacher- 2 sounds a week is perfectly acceptable.

I would prefer a book a week BUT considering there has been a midweek Halloween, a strike week and the October week, they are doing well with one every second week.

Don’t ruin your relationship with the school over this.

Groovee · 13/11/2023 20:27

I went on a course earlier this year where I attended drawing club for P1. They only learn the initial sounds. Then focus on a story and work through the story building on it. It was a fascinating way to see writing and reading being this way. The school who were doing the workshop had seen better progress.

Plus with play base they will be learning all day long through the experiences provided.

Original poster

Estrele · 13/11/2023 22:11

Thank you for all your thoughts!I agree re not too much home work. However it was my DS that was asking to read ( he LOVES books and we have always read atleast one book a day to him and often more, he also spends a lot of time listening to audio books too). As such I asked if they could send books back with words and I got told no and so have been getting lots from the library :) which he enjoys but I feel out of my depth on some sounds now and they don’t seem interested in supporting him ( he has asked for sounds he doesn’t know already ) … this is all contrary to what the head teacher told me when we first saw the school as I asked her specifically if they would work all the same speed of slower/faster according to pupils needs etc. hence why I find it frustrating. Plus the number of books and sounds is less than a third of what previous P1s had ( over the past 5 years or so … that said all the years in his class seem to have a similar reduction in reading and progress this year) …

OP posts:

Original poster

Estrele · 13/11/2023 22:14

@Fluffee thank you! I checked and his sounds aren’t even at 2 a week and the school didn’t close for the strikes. But thank you for your words!

OP posts:

TooOldForThisNonsense · 13/11/2023 22:18

What’s the complaint sorry?

Kindly OP when my son was in p1 he brought wordless books home for weeks, I was worried it wasn’t enough as people online’s kids seemed to be getting more. He’s got an A in higher English now. It will be fine. The school will know what they’re doing

Original poster

Estrele · 13/11/2023 22:21

thank you! I am not wanting loads of homework… I am just wanting one book a week that is an appropriate level and not so simple it demotivates him. But yes I have sourced books from the library and second hand and he has always loved activity books. I am just frustrated

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TooOldForThisNonsense · 13/11/2023 22:24

I bought my son a big set of Biff Chip and Kipper books back in the day (long time ago as he’s in s6!)

JSMill · 14/11/2023 07:59

Estrele · 12/11/2023 21:16

So in 10weeks of school my LO ( in P1) has had 5books back for homework and sounds/letters a total of about 10 … it seems everyone is wondering what has happened to homework as it is a similar sort right up to P7. I have sent message in and tried to speak to the head but she has shut me down and no one else has made progress either from what I gather. Does anyone know how to go about raising the matter up to a higher authority?- it seems that the SPSO don’t deal with complaints about what/how they are taught? TIA!

Do you mean reading books? That's definitely not enough. They should be changing books at least once a week.

Ineedaholiday23 · 14/11/2023 09:34

If he doesn't know his sounds, why are you wanting books every week? You need to be going over his sounds with him, practise blending them , that's how they learn to read.

Of course, at bedtime etc, read books for enjoyment but if he is still learning sounds, focus on that.

RoundTheBloch · 14/11/2023 09:47

OP, my DC's schools are great, but my stance has always been that these are my children - it is MY job to ensure they have a great education, nobody else could or should focus on them as much as I can. That means sending them to school and being curious and involved in their school learning, but that is only part of it. I taught DC to read at their own pace (which far outstripped the school's pace), provided endless books (still do!) and guidance, and school expertly backed it up. I understand and value the expertise of teachers and I'm very grateful they have taught them so much, but I also understand the limitations. Anyway, I've re-read my post and it sounds smug and I'm cringing, but maybe shifting towards that kind of mindset might save you some angst op?