Why on earth do schools wait so long to fix this?

[ninaor1]

I know that 'illiterate' refers to not being able to read and write, but maths is a language and our children should be able to read and write it. It has its own vocabulary, syntax and it encourages problem solving and analysis. My point is, why are there not booster classes for maths from year 3? Why do schools only concentrate on it when it is far too late? If a capable child does not know the multiplication tables by year 6, is this not cause for concern? Or am I making the problem too simple? Perhaps there is not a problem and it is okay for our children to continue to fear and live in ignorance of maths. Funny, people seem to treat not being able to do maths as a badge of honour. You hear it all the time. However, it is strange how we stigmatise those who cannot read!

I think it is appalling how this country leaves our young people to struggle, while other emerging countries are doing their best to educate their young people. I have known 14-year-olds that cannot add and subtract – forget knowing the times tables! In this credit-laden society that we are evolving into, how will these young people cope with financial burdens? How will they manage their finances? I am not saying that they have to do A level maths. Just make them literate – maths literate and start from an early age. Believe me, it is difficult trying to teach a 14-year-old the times tables and subtraction! We need to start from a young age and submerge our children into maths. Make it fun. Play games. Encourage young people to invest and save. Granted they will not get much for their saving in terms of interest, but at least it will encourage them to have money for a rainy day!

What do you think?

[Sirzy]

My son has been doing maths booster classes since year 1....

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

What I think? I think you’re talking utter nonsense.

Have you ever been inside a UK school? They have daily Maths and the national curriculum covers all that stuff you mention.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

I would imagine that lack of money is the root issue. I'm sure schools would love to have lots of extra lessons for students who are falling behind with their maths, or lots of extra specialist teachers to take maths sessions in smaller groups. Or the LA could offer specialist maths support for primary teachers to enhance their teaching of maths. But the money won't be there for that.

Then there's the primary maths curriculum itself. What aspects of it do you think should be improved/changed?

[HateSummer]

I disagree. Our school does a lot to help children learn and enjoy maths. My dd went to regular booster classes in year 3 to help her catch up. My 5 year old knows number bonds and can add simple numbers. They both have access to sumdog via school.

[AppleTrayBake]

Where have you got your information on what schools do/don't do from?

[ninaor1]

That is wonderful. I'm glad the school is supporting your child.

[ninaor1]

I only going by what I have seen in London and some parts of Hertfordshire. I have four boys. They all attended school in London. However, I did my best to help them but I did notice that many of their friends had problems with maths.

[Wolfiefan]

But I doubt their teachers will have shared with you what techniques they have used to help these students improve.
Not sure how you have come to accurate assessments of all these children?!

[Eolian]

What on earth are you talking about? Primary schools teach maths daily and support those who find it difficult as well as they can within the constraints of the budget and timetable. Just as they do with literacy and everything else. How exactly do you think schools are failing pupils? When are these 'booster lessons' supposed to take place?

[Eolian]

Not sure how you have come to accurate assessments of all these children?!

Exactly. How do you know these other children had problems with maths, and how do you know what was or wasn't done to help them?

[ninaor1]

I do think times tables does get missed, but I am not sure why. Yes, I do appreciate that a lack of funding and an increasingly complex curriculum does not help, but children spend a lot of hours in primary school so surely this can be rectified by teaching using a variety of activities and basic resources.

[OurMiracle1106]

I was given special classes for maths as I was behind from the age of 7.

It definitely is concentrated on.
I then went on to do my maths gcse early and was one of top of the year for maths come secondary.

[lovelyjubilly]

Have you been in a primary school lately?

[Blueemeraldagain]

I work in a secondary school for boys with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. I teach English. A very high number of people, on learning my job and setting, remark that I must find it very challenging getting boys with SEN to engage with and make progress in English. Over the last 4 years (around 100 students, we are a small school) I have found the opposite. It is unusual for a student to join us unable to read beyond the level of a 7 year old (largely taken as the point of literate/illiterate), I've probably taught about 9 in 5 years and there are none in our current Year 7. Far more common are boys with mathematical ability/knowledge below that of an average 7 year old. I would estimate we currently have 20 boys who fall in this category and have had the same number again already finish Year 11 in my time at the school.

I know it's not scientific but this does lead me to think something is being missed/over looked.

[AppleTrayBake]

Dropping your child off at the schools gates and collecting them again hardly gives you enough information to make a judgment on how/ what maths is taught. You have to go inside to do that.

• Maths INSET
  

-Lesson observations
-Pupil progress meetings
-Planning meetings
-IEP Meetings
-Intervention groups planning/ observations
-Academic reading on the teaching of maths in EYFS and beyond.

Here you will find out about the teaching and learning of Maths.

[ninaor1]

The message I am hearing is that it has changed. If that is the case then I am glad. I am hopeful then that we are keeping up with the world! I await the next set of highly educated students and glad that my perceptions from what I have witnesses are not the norm!

[ninaor1]

There appears to lots of meetings about this problem!

[user789653241]

"I do think times tables does get missed, "

No way it gets missed at our school. It's all about times tables in yr3/yr4 at our school.

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Where’s your evidence op?

[MyOtherProfile]

Times tables get missed? It's been a main target for my dc every year since yr 2. I'm a bit sick of times tables.

[tellitlikeitispls]

I'm confused. My two are always doing times tables. I can't even understand why my eldest (Y6) is still being asked to 'learn' his times tables when he knew them four years ago. They are definitely encouraging of times tables!
The school also uses the skoolbo system (which I personally dislike, but its a free resource for those that can access the internet) to encourage children to do their maths and english practice online at home in a fun way.
Once a week a maths tutor comes in to each year group for out-of-class teaching for the kids that need something a bit more challenging.
Its not perfect but they certain address problems. We're in Cambridgeshire.

[ninaor1]

Knowledge of the times tables is not useful by itself. A child must learn to apply the knowledge in a mathematical context.

[user789653241]

Yes, of course, and that's what most school are doing, I assume?
I really don't get where you got the idea that UK school are neglecting maths.
Weekly written homework, weekly online homework, daily lessons, maths workshops/meetings for parents, maths calculation booklet for parents, homework club....
What more do you need?

[Eolian]

Is it just me or did it feel like the OP was hoping to casually mention her keenly-priced maths resources or subscription-based maths games website?

[user789653241]

Possible , scare tactics by telling how awful school teaching these days to the worried parents?