Will my child have homework? It’s one of the first questions families ask when they visit IMS Sotogrande. The short answer is no, at least not in the traditional sense of worksheets and booklets to complete at home. And behind that decision lies decades of pedagogical research supporting a different approach. In this article we explore Montessori homework policy in depth with practical examples.

Key Takeaways When it comes to Montessori homework policy, it pays to listen to what families and lead guides actually report.

• Traditional homework doesn’t improve academic performance in primary school, according to studies from Duke University.
• In Montessori, intentional work happens during the classroom work cycle, with concrete materials and specialized guides.
• At home, we promote autonomy, free exploration, and practical life skills, not repetitive exercises.
• Families from Sotogrande, La Línea, and Algeciras who choose IMS value that their children come home without backpacks loaded with homework.

Why Research Is Skeptical of Traditional Homework

Professor Harris Cooper from Duke University has spent decades studying the impact of homework. His meta-analyses conclude something clear: in Primary Education, the correlation between homework and academic performance is virtually non-existent. After age 12 there may be some benefit, but only if tasks are meaningful and don’t exceed one hour per day. Daily practice with Montessori homework policy reveals nuances no handbook fully captures.

The OECD reinforces this in its PISA reports. Countries that assign the least homework (Finland, South Korea at certain levels) achieve results equal to or better than those that overwhelm children with exercises. The key isn’t the number of hours seated, but the quality of learning during the school day. Understanding Montessori homework policy from inside the classroom reshapes everyday decisions.

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Experimental Education found that more than two hours of daily homework is associated with stress, sleep loss, and lack of motivation. At age 6, a child needs to play, move, and rest more than repeat operations on a sheet. Concrete data on Montessori homework policy is worth reviewing before acting on assumptions.

What We Do at Our Sotogrande School Instead of Homework

At our Montessori school in Sotogrande, each day is structured in three-hour work cycles. During that block, children in Casa de Niños (3-6 years) and Taller (6-12 years) choose activities with Montessori materials designed for their developmental stage. Guides observe, present new materials, and accompany without interrupting.

This approach allows each child to progress at their own pace. A 7-year-old student may be working with the multiplication bead material while another explores geometry with the solid constructions. There is no single pace imposed by the group.

Book a personalized school visit and see how the work cycle functions in our classrooms.

The Role of Practical Life at Home

Montessori doesn’t ignore family life. On the contrary: it proposes that the home be a space for autonomous learning. Cooking together, setting the table, caring for plants, or folding laundry are activities that develop motor coordination, concentration, and responsibility. You don’t need an exercise workbook for your child to learn fractions; just measuring ingredients while preparing a recipe is enough.

At IMS, we organize workshops for families, such as our “Acompañando-té” program, where we share practical strategies for integrating natural learning into the home routine without turning it into a homework list.

What Families Can Do Without Turning Home into a Classroom

If your child comes home from school and you need them to be entertained while you prepare dinner, you don’t need to impose homework. Offer real options: a reading corner with accessible books, art materials within reach, a building space with open-ended pieces. The idea is that the child chooses, not that they comply.

Families of international expats who relocate to the Costa del Sol, coming from countries with very rigid school systems, often ask if their children will fall behind without homework. The answer is no. Children at IMS develop autonomous work habits that prepare them better for secondary school than the mechanical repetition of exercises.

Read more about fostering child autonomy in our article Montessori at Home.

Montessori Homework: What We Do Expect at Home

We don’t assign worksheets, but we do make specific requests. That Taller children read for 20 minutes a day. That they participate in preparing a family meal once a week. That they explore a topic of their interest over the weekend and share it with their classmates on Monday. These aren’t mandatory homework; they are invitations that connect the classroom with the home.

In our bilingual Spanish-English program, many children choose to research in English about animals, volcanoes, or ancient history. That self-directed curiosity is worth more than any exercise sheet.

Enquire about admissions at our international school near Gibraltar to learn more about our approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Montessori children prepared for Secondary School if they never do homework?

Yes. Students who arrive at Secondary from Montessori environments typically show better time management, greater concentration skills, and developed research abilities. The transition is smoother because they have learned to work autonomously, not depend on external instructions for every task.

What if my child wants to do homework like their friends?

It’s an opportunity for conversation. Explain that each school has its own way of working. Offer alternatives: a free drawing notebook, a home science project, a math challenge with real objects. If they insist, let them choose something that motivates them without making it an obligation.

Is there homework in the Nido (0-3 years) stage?

Absolutely not. In the Montessori Nido at IMS, learning is based on free movement, sensory exploration, and a secure bond with the guides. It makes no sense to talk about homework at this stage. What we do do is accompany families with orientation sessions on child development at home.

How much homework does the WHO recommend for primary school children?

The WHO doesn’t establish a specific homework figure, but its guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior recommend that children aged 5 to 17 dedicate at least 60 minutes daily to moderate-vigorous movement. This leaves little room for long homework sessions seated in a chair.

Key Conclusions

Traditional homework provides no proven benefit in Primary Education. At IMS Sotogrande, we prioritize intentional work in the classroom and autonomy at home, because we know that a child who has worked with depth for three hours doesn’t need to repeat the same things in the afternoon.

If your family lives in Campo de Gibraltar, La Línea, Estepona, or Marbella and you’re looking for a bilingual or international school where your child can grow without the pressure of homework, visit us in Sotogrande and discover how we cultivate real childhood.

Viviane Dumont
Director of Studies, International Montessori School Sotogrande