27/07/2024
Research shows that setting formal homework does not have an impact on progress in Early Years (or much of Primary school for that matter, but that’s a debate for another day, perhaps).
It can also be yet another strain on parents – adding to their mental load, guilt and time-pressure - especially over the holidays when these stresses often peak.📈
One 2020 study concluded: “We find little evidence that the amount of homework time primary school children are assigned is related to their academic achievement. This holds true across a large number of countries, survives various robustness tests and does not vary by gender or socio-economic status.”[ 📚1]
👀Looking into research around homework, it feels very clear that challenging this requirement, especially in Early Years, is a tricky but essential part of our roles. It can be especially difficult when you’re faced with a school policy, manager or SLT who insist homework is sent home consistently throughout the school.
I know sometimes we’re also encouraged to send homework by the families we work with – often because they see other children receiving it or remember it being an important part of their learning experience so expect something to arrive. This might be happening particularly to all you Reception teachers out there!
⚠️If you need to challenge this idea of sending home worksheets or other formal homework tasks, focus on the fact that research shows it does not support progress in the way the adults might think.
Although there is a lack of EY-specific research into the topic of homework[📚2], we know from years of research that what young children need is time to play freely… and adults who have time to play alongside them. 🤸♂️
This quote from EPPE sums up the impact of play at home perfectly:
"For all children, the quality of the home learning environment is more important for intellectual and social development than parental occupation, education or income. What parents do is more important than who parents are." [📚3]
If you do need (or want) to send home ideas for play or other activities, focus on offering a more child development informed alternative.
Try not to make these feel overwhelming or reliant on lots of time/resources. Creating a checklist of experiences like museums and baking projects can be tempting… but can also leave families feeling frustrated by being unable to keep up with expectations.
➡️ Instead, focus on giving them ideas and advice around making everyday routines into games, encouraging them to read together or sending a simple rhyme or word game home for them to share.
Best of all, send home a reminder that 🌟play🌟 is the most important work their child does – and encouraging parents to make time and space for it at home whenever they can!
In the chaos of school holidays, these simple play ideas that take the pressure off the adults at home will be the best things we can share for our families.
Many of you talked about this approach in the comments on my previous posts about homework – so I’ll be sharing simple activity ideas throughout the summer which can be used at your setting or sent home for families this summer.
📚References:
[📚1] Jerrim J, Lopez-Agudo LA, Marcenaro-Gutierrez OD. ‘The association between homework and primary school children's academic achievement. International evidence from PIRLS and TIMSS’ Eur J Educ. (2020) 55: 248–260. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12374
[📚2] Simone Lehrl, Maria Evangelou & Pam Sammons (2020) The home learning environment and its role in shaping children’s educational development, School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 31:1, 1-6, DOI: 10.1080/09243453.2020.1693487
[📚3] Sylva K, Melhuish E, Sammons P, Siraj-Blatchford I & Taggart B. ‘The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) Project: Findings from Pre-school to end of Key Stage1’ (2004) Institute of Education, University of London, University of Oxford, Birkbeck, University of Nottingham.
