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Brainhub guide

Back to school: routines that stick

The first weeks of term set the pattern for the year. Small routines for sleep, mornings and homework, started before the first day.

Written by the Brainhub Editorial Team Cites published research Updated 31 Oct 2026 5 min read

Key takeaways

1. Why routines matter now

The first few weeks of term set the pattern for the year. Routines that start calmly in September are much easier to keep in March.

Attendance is part of it. A pupil who misses 10% or more of possible sessions counts as persistently absent, and in 2024/25, 18.14% of pupils in England were. That is about one day in every ten.[1]

2. Sleep first

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 9 to 12 hours a night for children aged 6 to 12, and 8 to 10 hours for teenagers aged 13 to 18.[2]

After the summer, move bedtime and wake-up time earlier by a little each day in the last week of the holidays. Small, steady changes work better than one early night before the first day.[3]

Screens off earlier: Agree a time when phones go to charge outside the bedroom, and keep it the same on school nights.

3. Calm mornings

Pack bags and lay out uniform the night before. Keep breakfast simple and the same most days. Leave a few minutes spare: a rushed start makes the whole morning harder.

4. Homework that becomes a habit

Pick one time and one place for homework, and keep it the same each day. Start short, then build up as the work grows.

Check the planner or online homework page together for the first few weeks, then step back as your child takes it over.

When
Routine
The night before
Bag packed, uniform out, phone charging outside the bedroom.
Morning
Same wake-up time, simple breakfast, a few spare minutes.
After school
Snack and a break, then homework at the usual time and place.
Bedtime
A wind-down routine and a steady bedtime, even on Fridays where you can.

5. Keep it going

Expect a wobble in the second or third week, when the novelty wears off. Go back to the plan without a fuss. Praise the routine, not just the results.

Small routines, started early, last all year.

6. How Brainhub can help

Our qualified teachers teach one-to-one, live online across the UK, at a regular weekly time that fits the family routine. Every family starts with a free 45-minute assessment.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. How much sleep do children aged 6 to 12 need?

  2. 2. What counts as persistent absence?

  3. 3. What is the best way to shift bedtime after the summer?

Your next steps

  • Start moving bedtime earlier a week before term.
  • Choose one time and place for homework.
  • Pack bags and lay out uniform the night before.

Sources

  1. DfE. Pupil absence in schools in England, academic year 2024/25 (published 26 March 2026). explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england/2024-25
  2. Paruthi, S. et al. (2016). Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: a consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(6), 785–786. doi:10.5664/jcsm.5866
  3. The Sleep Charity. Helping your child get back into a healthy sleep routine for school. thesleepcharity.org.uk/helping-your-child-get-back-into-a-healthy-sleep-routine-for-school

This guide is general study advice. Every student is different. A teacher can help you work out what fits.