Mathematics

During key stage 1, pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of maths through practical activity, exploration and discussion. They learn to recognise and use numbers to 100 and beyond and learn about shape and space. At this age, children get into the routine of doing maths in their heads, without relying on calculators.

1. Number

Children are taught about:

• counting
• calculating
• solving simple problems
• making simple lists, tables and charts

At the end of Key Stage 1 (age 7), most children are able to:

• count, read and write whole numbers up to 100, and put them in order
• count on or back in ones or tens from different starting numbers
• know the pairs of numbers in tens that make 100 (for example, 20 + 80 = 100, 40 + 60 = 100)
• identify if numbers are odd or even
• know that you can undo an addition with a subtraction
• know by heart all adding and subtracting facts for each number up to ten (for example, know the facts that 2 + 6 = 8, 8 - 2 = 6 and 8 - 6 = 2 and so on)
• know that they can do addition in any order, and that it's easier to start with the bigger numbers
• understand that multiplying is the same as adding more of the same number
• halve numbers or double them
• know the 2 and 10 times tables by heart

2. Shape, Space and Measure

Children are taught about:

• looking at, handling and describing the features of common shapes such as triangles, squares, rectangles, cubes, hexagons, spheres and cylinders
• describing positions, directions and movements and right angles
• working and measuring with units of time, length, weight and capacity

At the end of Key Stage 1 (age 7), most children are able to:

• use the mathematical names for common 2D and 3D shapes
• say how many sides and corners a shape has, and if it has any right angles
• predict how a shape would appear in a mirror
• recognise turning movements such as whole turns, half turns and quarter turns
• measure or weigh things using units such as centimetres, metres, litres or kilograms
• choose sensible units to use
• use a ruler to draw and measure lines to the nearest centimetre
• tell the time to the half and quarter hour

3. Using and Applying Mathematics

Children are taught to:

• reason about problems and solve them
• communicate their thinking and results using objects, pictures, diagrams, words, numbers and symbols
• estimate and measure everyday items
• do sums in their heads, especially by imagining numbers and the relationships between them.

At the end of Key Stage 1 (age 7), most children are able to:

• notice patterns and describe them
• choose a sensible approach to tackle a problem
• explain how they solved a problem
• use words, symbols and simple diagrams to record what they do in a mathematical way