TheSchoolRun.com closure date
As we informed you a few months ago, TheSchoolRun has had to make the difficult decision to close due to financial pressures and the company has now ceased trading. We had hoped to keep our content available through a partnership with another educational provider, but this provider has since withdrawn from the agreement.
As a result, we now have to permanently close TheSchoolRun.com. However, to give subscribers time to download any content they’d like to keep, we will keep the website open until 31st July 2025. After this date, the site will be taken down and there will be no further access to any resources. We strongly encourage you to download and save any resources you think you may want to use in the future.
In particular, we suggest downloading:
- Learning packs
- All the worksheets from the 11+ programme, if you are following this with your child
- Complete Learning Journey programmes (the packs below include all 40 worksheets for each programme)
You should already have received 16 primary school eBooks (worth £108.84) to download and keep. If you haven’t received these, please contact us at [email protected] before 31st July 2025, and we will send them to you.
We are very sorry that there is no way to continue offering access to resources and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.
Mental multiplication problems: Y3, Y4, Y5
By the time they enter Year 5 children should be very confident in all times tables. They should also know their division facts for each times table (if 6 x 3 = 18 then 18 ÷ 6 = 3). Use these mental maths questions to test your child.
How can you improve mental maths skills in KS2?
Here are some ways that you can improve your KS2 child's mental maths skills:
- Practise daily
Spend a few minutes each day solving quick math problems to build confidence.
- Play math games
Use fun apps or board games that involve numbers.
- Use flashcards
Create or use flashcards for times tables and simple addition.
- Break problems down
Solve big problems by breaking them into smaller, easier steps.
How do KS2 children develop mental multiplication skills?
- Learning times tables: Children start by memorising times tables, which is the foundation for quick mental multiplication. Regular repetition and practice help solidify these facts.
- Using patterns and tricks: They learn patterns and tricks, like doubling numbers to multiply by 2 or using known facts (like 5x6) to figure out related problems (like 6x6).
- Breaking down problems: Children are taught to break down more complex multiplication into smaller, easier steps. For example, to multiply 7x8, they might think of it as (7x4) + (7x4).
- Practising with real-life problems: They apply multiplication to real-life scenarios, like calculating the total number of items in groups, which helps them understand and practise in a practical context.
- Regular practice and games: Consistent practice through worksheets, mental math challenges and interactive games helps reinforce their skills and make learning fun.
