If what you remember as mathematics is pages of calculations you may be surprised when your child’s maths book contains writing, pictures, diagrams, jottings or blank number lines and not many traditional column calculations. Younger children, up to at least year 3, will record calculations in a variety of ways that do not necessarily look like the kind of ‘sums’ you may remember. This is because written calculations are not the ultimate aim: the aim is for children to do calculations in their heads and, if the numbers are too large, to use a way of writing them down that helps their thinking. This will, in years 4, 5 and 6, include vertical written methods.

As children develop their knowledge and understanding through years 3 – 6 teachers will be asking them to look at any calculation and ask “Can we do this in our heads?” Sometimes this is supported by a drawing, diagram or numerical jotting (notes). If they can’t do it largely in their heads they should be looking for the most suitable written method or, during years 5 and 6, using a calculator for more complex calculations.

Here we try, as simply as possible, to help you to help your children. We take you through the ideas relating to children’s number development from the earliest counting and mental skills to their recording of calculations to support thinking. If you’ve never felt very confident with numbers and calculations this might also help you! Read on and see.

Read Our Calculation Policy