I have taught in many schools, both as class teacher and as a supply teacher. One of the biggest bones of contention between parents and teachers is the dreaded 'H word'. A necessary evil which many teachers don't agree with, dislike setting and hate the police officer role needed to get it in! Not to mention yet another sixty or so pieces of work to mark. Surprisingly enough, most children aren't keen on it either! So how can we ensure that all that suffering isn't in vain? By making sure that your children benefit from the task set. And that, I'm afraid, is largely down to you.

How can you help? Here are a few pointers;

* At the beginning of the school year, ask your child's teacher for a homework diary, if they haven't already sent one home. This should detail which evenings homework will be set, what subjects and the hand in days.

* Try to make sure that homework isn't done the evening before it should be handed in, you might need to clarify something with the teacher.

* Set aside some quiet time when you can both concentrate on the task.

* Play a little music quietly in the background. It has been proven that playing classical music can aid memory and understanding. It's called the Mozart Effect.

* Make sure your child has a drink of water. The brain is about 70% water and needs to be fully hydrated to work properly.

* Ask your child to explain the task to you, then check the instructions yourself. As them how it relates to the work done in class. This will help to consolidate their learning. Please remember, though, that sometimes homework is used to review a topic which is about to be revisited, so won't have any direct relevance to that week's work.

* Don't work for more than about half an hour without a break.

* Although the work should be completed by your child, it's perfectly ok to explain or even model the work for them.

* Maths homework is often set to practise a particular technique, rather than to find the right answer (although that's always a bonus!) If your child has been asked to do their work a certain way, showing them 'The Proper Way' will only confuse them. Believe me, we've all done it!

* Try to have fun. Sing spellings out loud, write a rap to help them to remember key facts, go shopping to talk about weight and money, play games. Laugh!

* When they have finished, make sure that your child knows you are proud of them.

* Remind yourself, and your child, that homework is an important opportunity to extend their learning. You can teach skills such as researching a topic and using an encyclopaedia much more effectively one-to-one than a teacher can with thirty children at a time.

* Above all, stay calm. Accept the fact that your child is always right, even when they're wrong. Accept the fact that they know more than you. After all, it's YEEEAAARRRS since you went to school!