HOMEWORK
Making homework work S
teve Richards, UK Product Manager at Discovery Education UK, shares how structured, adaptive tools can strengthen the link between classroom learning and home practice.
For many families, homework is one of the most challenging parts of the school day. After hours spent in the classroom, children are often tired and ready to switch off, while parents sometimes feel unsure about how best to help.
The result is that homework can quickly become a source of frustration. But with the right approach and resources, it doesn’t have to feel this way. In fact, with the right structure in place, homework can become a simple, regular, and even enjoyable part of pupils’ routines.
This is where DoodleLearning by Discovery Education comes in. Designed by teachers, DoodleLearning offers four programmes: DoodleMaths, DoodleEnglish, DoodleTables and DoodleSpell. They’re all built to support children’s primary school learning in small, manageable steps, making them well suited to complement homework. Rather than replacing homework, they work alongside it, helping children to practise key skills, reinforce what they’ve learned in school and build confidence over time.
As well as supporting independent practice at home, Doodle can be used by teachers as a digital homework tool – allowing tasks to be set, completed and reviewed within one platform.
Making homework manageable One of the biggest challenges with homework is simply getting started. Long sessions at the kitchen table can feel overwhelming, especially after a busy school day.
DoodleLearning takes a different approach. Instead of expecting children to sit down for extended periods, it encourages short, daily sessions of around 10 minutes. This “little and often” approach can help teachers set more manageable expectations for homework completion, while helping to prevent children from feeling overloaded.
For example, a child might complete a few maths questions while dinner is being prepared, or practise spellings before bed. This ‘little and often’ approach is particularly effective for homework, where consistency matters far more than duration. And because Doodle’s apps can be used across a range of devices, children can learn anywhere, anytime. Pupils can also access Doodle across tablets, phones, laptops and desktops, and complete activities offline, allowing them to work flexibly in a range of home environments.
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Supporting what children are learning Homework is most effective when it reinforces what’s being taught in school. However, this alignment can be difficult to maintain once learning moves into the home. Doodle helps bridge the gap with curriculum-aligned content that adapts to what children are currently learning. For instance, if a child is covering fractions or times tables at school, DoodleMaths and DoodleTables provide relevant, level-appropriate questions. And if they’re working on grammar or comprehension in preparation for SATs, DoodleEnglish offers targeted support in those areas too.
Teachers can also use Doodle to set specific assignments, helping homework to function as a clear extension of classroom learning. As one parent recently shared: “Our son’s teachers can set him assignments on Doodle for homework… it’s an excellent way to plug learning gaps.” This sense of purpose can support more consistent pupil engagement. Teachers can also create their own questions and upload content – such as weekly spelling lists – which Doodle converts into interactive exercises. This allows homework to be closely tailored to classroom teaching.
Personalised practice without guesswork A common challenge for parents is knowing
April 2026
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