Key Stage 2 – Mathematics

Mathematics teaching in England is based on the national curriculum requirements for primary schools.  The requirements are set out for Key Stage 1 and for lower Key Stage 2 and upper Key Stage 2.

During lower Key Stage 2 –  years 3 and 4 – children:

• Develop efficient written and mental methods and perform calculations accurately with increasingly large whole numbers.
• Solve a range of problems, including with simple fractions and decimal place value.
• Analyse shapes and their properties, and confidently describe the relationships between them.
• Use measuring instruments with accuracy.
• Memorise their multiplication tables up to and including the 12 times in their work

The national curriculum focus for upper Key Stage 2 – years 5 and 6 – is to ensure that pupils extend their understanding of the number system and place value to include larger integers.

• Develop the connections between multiplication and division with fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio.
• Solve a wider range of problems, including increasingly complex properties of numbers and arithmetic.
• Be introduced to the language of algebra as a means for solving problems.
• Classify shapes with increasingly complex geometric properties

By the end of year 6 (the end of Key Stage 2), children should be fluent in written methods for all four operations, including long multiplication and division, and in working with fractions, decimals and percentages.

 THE WES MATHEMATICS COURSE

The WES Mathematics course is based on Abacus which has been designed to meet all the requirements of the new national curriculum and to provide a sound basis for your child’s learning. This course is used all the way through Key Stages 1 and 2. The course has been devised to make mathematics relevant, meaningful and, above all, enjoyable and is intended to build up a positive attitude towards the subject.

The course offers attractive resources which embody an active and investigative approach. Many activities are presented as games which will develop and consolidate appropriate concepts. If you are working with just one child you will often be acting as a partner for your child. Children will be encouraged at all times to develop confidence with the handling of numbers. They will be encouraged to develop strategies for working out calculations in their head and they will be asked to practise with some basic facts to ensure that instant recall will enable them to solve more challenging problems. They will be stimulated to want to learn, to want to be challenged and to find out for themselves.