Times Tables
You may be aware that from June 2021 there is an ew test for Year 4 children called, "The Multiplication Tables Check." Recently, this test has been made non-compulsory but pupils will take part in the optional check.
Here's what you need to know: Under the national curriculum primary school children are expected to know their 12 times tables by the end of Year 4. At King's Hedges we begin to teach them in Year 2 and 3.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/multiplication-tables-check
The check itself:
- Will take place at school in the summer term in June (but will be optional for schools).
- Is done online using a computer or tablet.
- Can be done one student at a time, in groups or as a class.
- Will take no longer than 5 minutes.
- Will feature 25 questions and children will have just 6 seconds to answer each question.
- There is no problem solving or division just simple '3 x 4 =__' type questions
- Pupils will be given the opportunity to practise before the actual check.
- Schools will be able to view their results once all participating pupils have taken the check.
- Schools will then share your child's score with you, as they would with all national curriculum assessments.
- The results of the tests for the school or individual children are not published publicly.
To help your child practise the times tables at home here are some easy tips to do this:
- Asking questions such as "What's 7 x 8?"
- Reciting times tables by rote (4 times 1 is 4, 4 times 2 is 8)
- Using apps and games (see below for suitable resources)
- Singing times tables songs (there are loads online)
Why do we learn the times tables?
- In primary school, times tables knowledge is vital for quick mental maths calculations and problem solving, as well as for many of the topics children learn in Years 5 and 6 (division, fractions, percentages)
KHEF progression of Skip Counting and Times Tables
Times tables: These are taught from Year 1 onwards. They involve teaching the pupils to recite equation, "two times two is four" etc. They work up to the twelfth equation. Once fluent pupils practise quick recall of these facts e.g. "What is two times two?" Times tables are displayed within sight from the carpet so pupils can refer to them when they are learning. Related division facts are also taught.
Some classes will progress more quickly through these facts and some will progress more slowly. This is the order they should be taught in:
| Year | Reception | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
|
Times tables introduced
|
No tables (skip counting)
|
No tables (skip counting)
|
10 5 2
|
4 3 8
|
9 7 6 11 12 |
All previous facts
|
Know, recall and use all previously learnt facts
|
Times Tables Rock Stars (ttrockstars.com)
We currently subscribe to this website. It is very child friendly and fun to use. Your child has a password to access their own account. They can play games to speed up their recall of multiplication facts. They earn coins the more they play which they can use to buy costumes for their character. The game 'sound check' imitates the timings and number of questions of the check.
Mulitplication Tables Check - https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/477/Multiplication-Tables-Check
We use this at school to practise the check. It is free for anyone to use and you don't need a login.
Useful websites:
www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/multiplication-anddivision Try 'Hit the Button'
www.multiplication.com/games/all-games
www.mathplayground.com/ASB_Index.html
On paper:
You could ask your child to fill in a TT Rockstars baseline assessment to see which tables they already know see here. Children can do this every few weeks to see which tables they have learnt.
