Dear Parents

 

You will be aware, from my letter in December, that in June 2022 there is a check for year 4 children called the “Multiplication Tables Check” introduced by the DfE. The link to the ‘Information for Parents’ booklet is below:

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1031901/2022_Information_for_parents_Multiplication_tables_check.pdf

 

Here is a reminder of what you need to know:

Under the national curriculum, primary school children are expected to know all of their times tables, up to 12 x12, by the end of Year 4.

The check itself

· Will take place between 6th June and 24th June.

· Is done online, in school, using a computer or tablet.

· Will be completed in groups

· Will feature 25 questions and children will have 6 seconds to answer each question.

· There is no problem solving or division - just simple “3 x 4 = ?” type questions.

 

Practise at home

We have been preparing students to know their times tables, by the end of year 4, for quite some time now. However, all children benefit from practising their times tables further at home. Some easy ways to do this include:

· Answering quick-fire questions such as “What’s 7 x 8?”

· Reciting times tables by rote (1 times 4 is 4, 2 times 4 is 8, etc).

· Singing times tables songs - there are plenty available online.

· Using apps and games. All children have access to MathsShed (by using their Spelling Shed login) and MathsFrame via the South View Junior School Apps page. There are activities on these sites that almost exactly mirror the 'Multiplication Tables Check'. I have listed other sites below:

https://www.timestables.co.uk/multiplication-tables-check/ https://urbrainy.com/mtc https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/multiplication-tables-check-practice-tg-ga-190

 

Why do we learn the times tables?

Times tables are a vital life skill. In primary school, times tables knowledge is important 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 etc).

If you have any further questions about the multiplication tables check then please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs K Young

Maths Manage