Supporting Maths at Home
At Hollymount, we follow the White Rose Education approach to mathematics, which focuses on deep understanding, fluency, reasoning and problem solving. Maths learning happens everywhere, not just in the classroom, and small everyday opportunities at home can make a huge difference to children’s confidence and enjoyment of maths.
Below are some practical ways families can support maths learning at home.
Practise number facts little and often
Quick, regular practice helps children build fluency.
This might include:
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Number bonds to 10, 20 and 100
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Doubling and halving
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Times tables and division facts
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Counting forwards and backwards in different steps (2s, 5s, 10s, 3s, 4s, 8s etc.)
Just 5–10 minutes a day can make a real difference.
Use maths in everyday life
Real life maths helps children see why maths matters.
Try involving your child in:
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Shopping and comparing prices
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Counting coins and working out change
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Reading timetables
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Measuring ingredients when cooking
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Estimating lengths, weights or capacity
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Reading clocks and calculating time intervals
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Planning journeys and distances
Encourage mathematical talk
Talking about maths helps children explain their thinking.
Ask questions such as:
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How do you know?
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Can you prove it?
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Is there another way?
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What pattern do you notice?
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What would happen if…?
There is often more than one correct method.
Support recall of multiplication facts
Knowing multiplication and division facts supports many areas of maths.
Children can practise through:
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Quick oral quizzes
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Chanting facts
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Flashcards
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Car journey games
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Online practice games
Accuracy and speed both develop over time.
Play games involving numbers
Games make maths enjoyable and help build fluency.
Examples include:
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Dominoes
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Dice games
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Card games
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Sudoku
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Number puzzles
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Board games involving counting or money
Focus on understanding, not just getting the answer
At Hollymount, we want children to explain their reasoning.
If your child gets stuck, encourage them to:
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Draw a picture
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Use objects
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Use a number line
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Explain their thinking aloud
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Try a different strategy
Use online resources carefully
High quality online resources can reinforce classroom learning.
Useful resources include:
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White Rose Education home learning materials
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BBC Bitesize
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Topmarks
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Times Tables Rock Stars (where applicable)
Celebrate mistakes
Mistakes are an important part of learning. Encourage children to persevere, try different strategies and learn from errors.
Phrases that help:
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“Show me how you worked that out.”
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“What have you tried so far?”
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“Can you spot where it changed?”
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“That’s an interesting method.”
Keep practice short and positive
Short, regular practice is far more effective than long sessions.
Aim for:
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5–10 minutes most days
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A calm environment
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Plenty of praise for effort and resilience
Stay connected with school learning
Ask your child:
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What maths are you learning this week?
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Can you teach me how you do it?
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Can you show me your method?
Teaching someone else is a powerful way to deepen understanding.
Our Intended Learning Booklets
At Hollymount, we believe that strong home and school partnerships make a real difference to children’s learning. Our Intended Learning Booklets give families a clear overview of the key mathematical knowledge, skills and vocabulary being taught across the year.
These booklets are designed to help parents:
- Understand what their child is learning in maths
- Become familiar with the methods and models used in school
- Support learning at home with greater confidence
- Use consistent mathematical language
- Identify key number facts and concepts to practise throughout the year
Please click on your child’s year group below to access their booklet:
