A simple routine for maths practice at home

Pick one small goal

Try setting aside about ten minutes when your child is ready to concentrate. Choose one thing to practise, such as finding half of a number. Start with a question they can already do, then change one part of it. For example, find half of 20, then half of 40.

Ask them to show their thinking

If your child is unsure, ask what they know already. Try drawing two boxes and sharing counters equally between them. Then write the calculation together and ask how it matches the picture. The same idea can be shown with objects, a drawing and numbers.

Education Endowment Foundation guidance on using objects and pictures in maths

End with one thing to remember

Ask your child to finish the sentence ‘Next time I could…’. If they made a mistake, pick one step to change and try it on a similar question. If a difficulty keeps coming up, make a note of the question and what your child tried so you can share it with their teacher or tutor.