How to Set Online Homework for Primary Pupils
Good online homework for primary pupils is short, predictable and linked to what was taught in class. Set two or three games a week, keep the total to 10 to 20 minutes a night at most, tell families exactly what to expect, and check completion without making it a source of stress. Our free Classroom mode lets you set up to 12 homework games and see who has played them.
How much homework is enough?
Practice is most useful when it is little and often. A few minutes of number facts or spelling most days helps more than one long session at the weekend. As a rough guide:
| Age | Time per day | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 5–7 | 5–10 minutes | Reading together, number bonds, sounds and sight words |
| 7–9 | 10–15 minutes | Reading, times tables, spelling patterns, telling the time |
| 9–11 | 15–20 minutes | Reading, fluency, a topic game and occasional timed practice |
Reading for pleasure sits on top of this and is worth more than any game. Keep game homework as a small, focused part of the week.
A useful test is whether a child could finish the week’s games in two or three short sittings without help. If the answer is no, cut the list or lower the level. Children who regularly run out of time or ask an adult for every answer are telling you the homework is too long or too hard, and that families are carrying the load instead.
Choosing the right games
Pick games that practise something children have already been taught. Homework is for building fluency, not for learning new ideas without help. Strong choices include times tables, number bonds, spelling, telling the time and reading comprehension. Tell children which level to play, using the level guide on each game page.
Setting it up in Classroom mode
- Create your class and generate nicknames. No real names, student accounts or emails are needed.
- Print login cards and send one home with each child, glued into a reading record or homework book.
- Choose up to 12 homework games. Students see the list when they open the class link and watch each game tick off as they finish it.
- Check the results grid each week to see who has played which game and how they did.
Because the class link works on any browser, children can play on a family tablet, a phone or a library computer.
A routine families can follow
Families are much more likely to help when the routine is simple. Send a short note at the start of term that covers:
- What to do: open the class link, tap your child’s nickname, play the ticked games.
- How long: a few short sessions a week, stopping at 20 minutes even if something is unfinished.
- How to help: sit nearby, encourage, and let your child answer for themselves.
- What to do if there is no device at home: tell the teacher, and printable worksheets can be sent instead.
Families who want more ideas can read our guide to building a homework routine.
Make it fair for every family
Not every child has a quiet space, a device or an adult free in the evening. Offer alternatives without fuss: a paper version, time on a school device at lunch, or a homework club. Never give consequences for missing online homework that a child could not reasonably complete. The aim is practice, not a test of home circumstances.
Following up
Look at the results grid once a week. Thank children who completed the set, mention three-star rounds and personal bests, and quietly check in with anyone who has not played. Often the reason is practical, such as a lost login card. Keep a spare set of cards so you can send another home the same day.
Use the results to plan. If most of the class struggled with a game, reteach that skill rather than setting it again. If a few children are getting three stars easily, raise their level or add an extra game for them.
Keeping it fresh
- Change one or two games each week and keep one familiar game for confidence.
- Add the Daily Maths Challenge as an optional extra.
- For older pupils who are secure, set a weekly Timed test round: 15 questions in 10 minutes, with answers at the end.
- Celebrate the class as a whole when everyone has finished the set.
Frequently asked questions
How long should primary homework take?
Around 5 to 10 minutes a day for younger children, rising to 15 to 20 minutes for older primary pupils, plus regular reading.
Do students need an email address to do online homework?
No. In Classroom mode students open the class link and tap their nickname. There are no student accounts, passwords or emails.
How many homework games can I set?
Up to 12 at a time. Students see them ticked off as they play, and you see a results grid for each game.
What about children without a device at home?
Offer a printable worksheet, time on a school device or a homework club, and avoid consequences for something a child could not complete.