Dear Parent/Carer,
As you are aware in June 2022, all children within Year 4 will take part in a statutory multiplication tables check. Each child in Year 4 will take a short online test to make sure his or her times tables’ knowledge is at the national expected level.
What will happen during the multiplication check?
Pupils will be asked to answer 25 questions on times tables from their 2 times tables to their 12 times tables. They will be given six seconds per question, with three seconds rest between each question, so the test should last less than five minutes. Questions about the six, seven, eight, nine, and twelve times tables are likely to come up most often, as these are the hardest for most children to learn. It’s a good idea to focus on these tricky times tables with your child. We would greatly appreciate it if you could continue to support your child with their times tables learning at home.
What can we do to support children in Year 4?
As well as working on their multiplication tables at school, it is vital that children are practising at home too, with adult support and guidance. We have invested heavily into Times Table Rockstars and strongly believe that regular practice on this site will help to improve children’s speed and accuracy, as well as becoming used to answering questions using a device.
You can also support your child using a number of strategies such as:
Times tables chanting
Using pasta pieces or pebbles to show groups of numbers representing times tables, e.g. four groups of three pasta shells to show 3 x 4 = 12
Visiting the Government website here for information for parents.
Tina Georgiades
Deputy Head Teacher