The guidance stated that pupils aged five to seven should do an hour of homework a week, rising to two and a half hours per night for Key Stage 4 pupils.

According to the BBC, the move means that in theory schools could choose to set no homework at all. The DfE commented, however, that 'homework is part and parcel of a good education', and Ofsted's 2012 inspection framework states that inspectors must consider 'the extent to which teachers enable pupils to develop the skills to learn for themselves... including setting appropriate homework to develop their understanding.'

The Guardian commented on the positive effect of parental involvement in their children's education in terms of achievement. Here are some practical ideas to help parents engage with their children's learning both at home and in school.