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Homework that counts: how to help without doing it for them

Homework can add months of progress, but more isn’t always better. Here is what the evidence says, and how to help at home without taking over.

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

Key takeaways

1. Why this week

Late January is when homework battles often start again: the new-term energy has worn off, the evenings are dark, and the tasks are piling up. It’s a good moment to reset the routine.

Homework is worth getting right. The Education Endowment Foundation’s Teaching and Learning Toolkit finds it adds about five months’ extra progress on average, for very low cost. The evidence is limited (43 studies), so treat it as a guide rather than a promise.[1]

2. What the evidence says

The effect is bigger in secondary school (+5 months) than in primary (+3 months). Younger children still benefit from short tasks, especially reading and practising number facts.[1]

More time doesn’t mean more learning. The EEF says the quality of the task matters more than the quantity, and that the impact appears to shrink as the time spent goes up. The highest-impact studies set homework about twice a week in a subject.[1]

Homework works best when it is part of what happens in lessons, has a clear purpose, and gets feedback. Studies that included feedback on homework had higher impacts on learning.[1]

School stage
Average extra progress from homework
Secondary
+5 months
Primary
+3 months

3. Four ways to help without doing it

Your role is coach, not co-author.

Same time, same place

A short routine, at the same time most days, beats a late-night rush. Phones in another room.

Ask what it’s for

“What is this practising?” If your child can answer, the homework is far more likely to stick.

Quiz, don’t copy

Encourage them to test themselves first, then check their notes. Copying out notes feels busy but teaches little.

Stuck? Note it and move on

Write down the question to ask the teacher, then carry on. Asking is a skill worth practising.

Avoid the takeover: If you write the answer, the teacher’s feedback is about your work, not theirs. Let mistakes through: they show the teacher what to teach next.

4. When homework becomes a battle

If tasks regularly take far longer than the school expects, or end in tears, tell the teacher. That is useful information, not a complaint. Ask how long the homework should take, and what to do when your child is stuck.

For older children, a simple weekly plan helps: list the week’s homework on Sunday evening, put each task in a slot, and leave one evening free.

Ten focused minutes beat an hour of copying out notes.

Want help building the habit?: Our teachers can help your child plan homework and revision, online or in person, with feedback every week. Book a free call.

Try it now

Test yourself on this page

Answer in your head first, then check.

  1. 1. How much extra progress does homework add in secondary school, on average?

  2. 2. What matters more: time spent or the quality of the task?

  3. 3. What makes homework more effective?

Your next steps

  • Agree a homework time and place for this week.
  • Ask “What is this practising?” once a day.
  • Tell the teacher if tasks regularly take much longer than expected.

Subject guides to go with this

Want one-to-one help? See how our online lessons work.

Sources

  1. Education Endowment Foundation. Teaching and Learning Toolkit: Homework. educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit/homework

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