To ensure your children get the best out of their education, ensure they have a suitable spot at home to do homework and revision. This is particularly important when they start secondary school, as we describe in our recent article.

You may need more than one spot

Different children have different needs when studying. And those needs can change depending on the type of work set, so it’s worth having more than one space where your children can work.

A desk in their bedroom is the obvious choice – but some young people prefer to work with a parent or sibling nearby. It might just be for company, or it might be for help with a tricky maths problem.

Children may also benefit from a quiet, comfortable space where they can read in peace.

Adapting spaces for study

Being short of space shouldn’t stop you from providing a studying spot for your child. It’s possible to adapt all sorts of space for homework with a folding desk, or furniture solutions designed to make the most of smaller spaces. Consider the spare room, spaces under the stairs or even a cupboard.

Making more space at home

By decluttering and using storage outside the home, it may be possible to find more space than you thought at home. Self-storage is ideal for seasonal items that you only need occasionally, or pieces of furniture that you love but that aren’t quite right for your lifestyle right now.

Sockets for laptops

In secondary school, homework may be set online via teams, so an internet connection is key for successful study. With more children doing homework on laptops or devices, ensure that your study space has sockets available for charging.

Lighting for serious study

A room’s ‘big light’ may not be adequate for studying and many children find it makes reading harder. A desk light will reduce glare and make it easier for your child to stay focussed.

Blocking distractions

Some children are more distractible than others. Noises from other parts of the house can interrupt study periods, so consider noise cancelling headphones or a white noise machine. If siblings have to share a study space, then desk screens can help reduce distractions.

Storage for successful study

BBC Bitesize recommends having a spot for your child’s school books to help with organisation. A cubby or a basket near your homework spot is ideal – but moveable storage – such as a trolley or bookshelf on wheels will allow you to adapt different spaces in your home for studying.

Getting comfortable for studying

When your child studies at the kitchen or dining room table, they may be sitting on chairs designed for adult bodies. Children may need a cushion or a box for their feet to make sitting more comfortable.

Ideal study conditions

It’s important to note that the traditional idea of the perfect study conditions may not be comfortable for everyone. As long as the tasks get done to a reasonable standard, give your child some freedom to choose how they work.

Not all children are comfortable sitting at a desk or table, particularly if they have had a long day at school. You may find that your child prefers to lie or sit on the floor with their books spread out around them.

While some people need complete quiet for study, others prefer to work with music on, or even with the TV on in the background.

Getting help with homework problems

Finally, if you and your child find homework a continual struggle, do speak to your school and ask about homework clubs and other support that may be available.

Setting children up for homework success will help get them off to the best start in life.