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The cash inflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period (for example, cash that was held by the acquired business).

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Acquisitions (Details) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions				3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Acquisitions (Details) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions	Jan. 01, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2020 GBP (£)	Jul. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2020 USD ($) Business	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired							$ 229	$ 74,169
Revenue				$ 491,011		$ 466,205	922,337	889,735
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				1,126,904	$ 1,116,790		1,126,904		$ 1,116,790
Research Publishing & Platforms [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Revenue				251,334		234,709	492,144	464,084
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				448,519	448,130		448,519		448,130
Academic & Professional Learning [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Revenue				170,590		177,725	297,503	322,583
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				508,114	501,091		508,114		501,091
Education Services [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Revenue				69,087		$ 53,771	132,690	$ 103,068
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				170,271	167,569		170,271		167,569
Mthree [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership interest acquired	100.00%
Fair value of consideration transferred	$ 128,600	£ 97.5
Total cash consideration transferred	122,200
Fair value of additional consideration to be paid after the acquisition date	6,400
Cash acquired	2,200
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired	126,400
Assets [Abstract]
Intangible Assets, net	56,800
Mthree [Member] \| Education Services [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Revenue				12,500			24,900
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 82,600
zybooks [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Total cash consideration transferred			$ 55,900
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired					24,500
zybooks [Member] \| Academic & Professional Learning [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Fair value of consideration transferred			57,100
Total cash consideration transferred							200
Fair value of additional consideration to be paid after the acquisition date			$ 1,200
Revenue				0			1,300
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill					$ 36,900				36,900
Other Acquisitions [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired									$ 48,500
Revenue				4,100			6,400
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				16,900			16,900
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired							39,400
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Intangible Assets, net				11,700			11,700
Goodwill				(11,700)			(11,700)
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Research Publishing & Platforms [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				8,400			$ 8,400
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Number of immaterial businesses acquired \| Business							2
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Academic & Professional Learning [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				$ 8,500			$ 8,500
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Number of immaterial businesses acquired \| Business							1
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Education Services [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Number of immaterial businesses acquired \| Business							1
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life							7 years
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Developed Technology [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life							8 years
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Content [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life							10 years
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Trademarks [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life							10 years