Supporting Mathematics at home
What exactly does my child need to learn in maths during each year at school?
The end of year expectations for all year groups is available as part of their class page on the school website. For those parents who are interested in more detail, you can have a look at your child's year group programme of study in the DfE's Mathematics National Curriculum (available here). This document sets out what children must be taught during their time at primary school.
Times Tables
One of the most common questions from parents at primary school level is 'which times tables should my child know?', and it is certainly true that the expectation in this area of maths have shifted over recent years. Please see the table below to find out the most up to date expectations. The fact that children are expected to know all multiplication and division facts to 12x12 by the end of Y4 is also tested by the Multiplication Tables Check, a statutory online test at the end of Year 4. Please remember that division facts are equally important as 'times tables' and it is important to focus on these at the same time, i.e. children should know that 2 x 4 = 8, 4 x 2 = 8, 8 / 2 = 4 and 8 / 4 = 2.
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Year group |
What are children expected to know? |
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Year 1 |
Children are taught the simplest form of multiplication, counting up in 2s, 5s and 10s |
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Year 2 |
Children are formally introduced to multiplication, related division facts and repeated addition for the numbers 2, 5 and 10.
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Year 3 |
A crucial year for times tables learning. Children are expected to learn multiplication facts for the 3, 6 and 8 times tables and to use practical and written methods to multiply and divide two-digit numbers (for example, 15 x 4) |
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Year 4 |
A ‘completing’ year for all multiplication facts up to 12 x 12. Children also continue to develop their skills in multiplication of two-digit numbers by a one-digit number, using harder combinations of numbers.They will also learn to multiply a three-digit number by a one-digit number. |
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Years 5 & 6 |
Children will be expected to be really confident in all their times tables (up to the 12 times table) by the start of Year 5. During Years 5 and 6 they will become confident in multiplying larger numbers (four-digits by two-digits, for example) |
There are lots of excellent ideas available to help you support your child in learning these crucial facts. Take a look at some of the tips here, here and here.
All children from Year 1 to Year 6 at our school have been given their own log ins for Times Table Rock Stars. Please ensure that they visit this site and practice regularly.
Calculation
Another common query is how calculation (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) strategies develop and are taught throughout the school. The methods that many parents (and teachers!) were taught when they were at school, differ to what is currently taught as part of the National Curriculum. Many a parent will have been reprimanded by their children for not performing a calculation 'the right way' when helping with homework!
For a step by step guide to how calculation develops, we think that this guide is very clear. The 'concrete' column demonstrates how manipulatives can be used to help children understand the maths behind the calculation concept and the 'pictorial' column shows how images can be used to develop this understanding further. Once a child has a good understanding of the concrete and pictorial demonstrations of a particular calculation method, they will be better equipped to deal with the 'abstract' (i.e. numbers only) method. If your child is struggling with a particular calculation method, you might find this guidance useful to help provide a more concrete demonstration.
Other useful sources of support
For parents who are wishing to skill themselves up a little in maths, we would recommend having a look at the CGP range of support/ workbooks - these are very user friendly, inexpensive, split up into different year groups, and there is a also range to choose from (i.e. guidance books, workbooks, SATs style questions) so you can find the level of support that suits you/ your child best. In school, we use these quite extensively in the run up to the KS2 SATs in Y6.
If you are ever wondering what a particular piece of maths vocabulary means, please consult the 'maths dictionary for kids' website, which has definitions and examples for hundreds of commonly used terms.