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Let me nail my colours to the mast right from the start: I’m not the biggest fan of homework in primary schools. And that’s in a personal (I’m the mother of a six-year-old) and professional (I edit the education blog, School Gate ) sense. I’m simply not convinced of the benefits.

That’s not to say I subscribe to the “all homework is bad” mentality. I’m happy for my daughter to bring home spellings, and also thought that in Reception and Year 1, a school reading book was a necessity. However, I’m not even sure this is needed now that my daughter can read fluently. She loves to read a book of her choosing, but is reluctant to do so when given something by her teacher. Whatever you believe about homework, surely it shouldn’t risk switching a child off from reading or learning?

Almost all of the work young children bring home could - and I think should - be done in the classroom. This way their time at home could be spent playing with friends or learning in another way by reading a book, visiting a museum, playing a sport or practising a musical instrument. They could even (let’s push the boat out) have free time to do whatever they liked (within reason). I have spent a good deal of time looking at the research on this issue and remain unconvinced that primary school pupils should follow a long day at school with more work. A child’s early years should be about so much more.

I’m not alone in my views. Homework is a topical and controversial subject, in primary and secondary schools, both here and around the world. The British government has long been a fan and recommends how much homework children should be given depending on their age. However, various schools are now railing against this and cutting back on the homework they set. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers is actually campaigning for homework to be scrapped in primary schools and limited in secondary.

The need for free time and time to play is one reason why I broadly agree with this. Another is the fact that so much homework (particularly for younger children) depends on parental involvement and, often, access to the internet or other resources. Not all children have an enthusiastic or even available parent, nor do they have technology at their fingertips. There have been suggestions that children from lower-income backgrounds don't benefit as much from homework because they have fewer resources and less assistance.

Expert Susan Hallam has also found that, although homework does have some benefits, it also creates anxiety, boredom, fatigue and emotional exhaustion in children, and can damage family relationships. Isn’t this list long enough for us to realise that homework just doesn’t work?

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Join the Debate: Read Kevin Rooney on Homework creates a nation of cheats

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Sarah Ebner is a journalist and the editor of the School Gate education blog.