The book bag comes home. Inside: two reading books, a reading record, and that familiar sinking feeling.
You're supposed to hear your child read. Five times a week. Plus NumBots for maths. And spelling practice.
But here's reality: your 6-year-old doesn't want to read after school. Your younger child demands attention. Dinner needs making. Bedtime is chaos. And now there's a note: "Please ensure reading is recorded 5x weekly."
Sound familiar? This is Year 1 homework reality for thousands of UK parents.
Straight after school? Your child is exhausted. Reading isn't happening.
Before dinner? You're cooking while managing multiple children.
After dinner? Pre-bedtime zoomies have started.
Bedtime? Your child is too tired. You get two sentences before their eyes glaze over.
Yet the reading record needs filling. Five times weekly, minimum.
When teachers ask for reading records, they're not checking if your child can read. They know that already.
They're checking parent engagement.
Schools must demonstrate parental involvement. The reading record is evidence. Not of your child's ability, but of your participation.
If your child is progressing well (as the teacher confirms), the record is administrative. Box-ticking. The notes and reminders continue until entries appear regularly.
Research on homework for Reception and Year 1 is clear: academic benefit is minimal.
Your six-year-old doesn't need formal homework to learn reading. They need:
The parent who reads bedtime stories nightly and talks constantly with their child? That child will likely become a good reader, with or without reading records.
Forced practice when tired and resistant? Achieves little except misery.
One page counts. Two sentences count. Three words count.
The reading record asks for frequency, not quantity. "Read pages 1-2" is valid.
Already read to your child at bedtime? If they read one page of their school book and you read the rest, record it.
Schools rarely challenge this if entries are regular and your child progresses.
Favourite picture book for the tenth time? Record it. Cereal box? Technically reading practice.
Many schools are flexible. Worth checking.
Can't manage weekday reading? Two sessions Saturday, two Sunday, one Monday. Five sessions done.
The record wants five entries, not even spread.
If five times isn't happening, talk to the teacher. Explain your circumstances.
They might suggest:
They'd rather three good sessions than five stressful ones.
Should you make up entries?
Some parents record five sessions when actually three happened. The pressure of notes outweighs creative record-keeping.
We won't judge. You know your situation.
But consider: if your child progresses well (teacher confirms), the record is administrative. Making boxes ticked keeps everyone calm.
Just don't replace actual reading with paperwork. The relationship with books matters more.
Active refusal is different from no time.
Check why:
Then adapt:
If severe resistance continues, speak to the teacher. Reading should never become hated.
Most Year 1 children resisting home practice are fine. They're tired and know reading happens at school.
Watch for actual reading difficulties:
If these appear, consider expert support. Our Year 1/2 Maths and English tuition club provides structured help with a UK qualified teacher in small groups of maximum 5 children. Weekly sessions build reading confidence without parent-child power struggles.
Your child is six. Barely a year into formal education. Over a decade ahead.
Most important now:
If perfect reading records don't happen, so be it.
Your child's teacher handled 200 reading records this week. Yours isn't standing out. As long as your child progresses (teacher confirms), paperwork is secondary.
Option 1: Aim for three solid sessions. Record them. Tell teacher this is realistic for your family.
Option 2: Make school book part of bedtime. One page, then bedtime story. Record daily.
Option 3: Focus weekends when there's less pressure. Record these.
Option 4: Record any reading: signs on walks, TV words, cereal boxes. All literacy practice.
Choose what works for your family. Not the ideal in your head.
Year 1 homework feels impossible because often it is, given real family life with young children.
You're not failing. The system expects something that doesn't fit most families.
Do what you can. Record what you manage. Communicate with teachers. Your child's reading relationship matters infinitely more than perfect records.
They're six. They're learning. They're doing fine.
And so are you.
