Helping your child become a…
The information in this document is designed to help parents understand how children at
Bathford Primary are taught to calculate the basic 4 operations of addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. Hopefully it will provide both clarity and reassurance regarding
the methods that children use, and enable families to support their children with their maths
at home.
The information presented is intentionally as short and simple as possible, in the belief that
there could be information overload if great detail is gone into. There will be sessions over
the coming terms where parents will be invited to participate in ‘hands-on’ training with some
of the newer concepts in particular- look out for these opportunities in the coming terms!
The key messages are:
o Written jottings and formal maths methods should be used when calculations cannot
accurately be done mentally- if your child can correctly and reliably work a calculation
out in their head, that’s great!
o The ‘traditional’ methods of column addition, subtraction, short multiplication and
short division are taught to children in school and so can be used at home.
o The ‘newer’ methods include: Using number lines (numbered and ‘empty’ lines) for
adding and subtracting. Using the ‘grid’ method for multiplication.
o The ‘newer’ methods will be presented to parents in workshops over the coming
months.
o School has evaluated methods used and agreed this more simplified set of taught
methods, with a clear progression. Below is a summary of the written methods your
child will learn at school. We hope families find the information useful.
Addition:
Children in Reception and Class 1 will learn to count on using a
number line and a hundred square. As the children meet
calculations that they cannot do in their heads, they will begin
to use empty number lines in Class 2 and the ‘traditional’ way
(the compact written method) of adding in Class 3. As the
numbers the children meet become harder in Key Stage 2
(including adding decimals), number lines and the compact
written method will continue to be used.
Subtraction:
Children in Reception and Class 1 will learn to count back
using a number line and a hundred square. As the children
meet calculations that they cannot do in their heads, they
will begin to use empty number lines in Class 2, consolidate
this in Class 3 and learn the ‘traditional’ way (compact
method) of subtracting in Class 4. As the numbers the
children meet become harder in Key Stage 2 (including
adding decimals), number lines and the compact written
method will continue to be used.
Multiplication:
Children in Reception and Class 1 will learn to count on in
2s, 5s and 10s. They will begin to learn their 2, 5 and 10
times tables in Class 2 and develop their understanding of
multiplication as repeated addition, developing this in Class
3. Children begin to use the Grid Method in Class 4. As the
numbers the children meet become harder in Key Stage 2,
the children will use the Grid Method to partition and
multiply bigger numbers, as well as being taught the
Compact Written Method.
Vocabulary
Division (this is the operation most children find hardest):
Children in Reception and Class 1 will begin to use the language
of sharing and splitting into groups, as well as developing their
understanding of doubling and halving. In Class 2 this will
continue and the children will begin to associate division facts
with multiplication facts that they learn. As with all maths,
much practical work with different types of apparatus will be
used to develop the children’s understanding of the concepts
involved. Children will learn that division can be done through
repeated subtraction, before being taught the compact written
method in Key Stage 2. This method will also be used when
dividing by 2 digit numbers, with jottings used to assist (see
the example of 504 divided by 24).