Times tables

[NewUser1111]

Silly question probably but when the curriculum says kids ought to know their times tables, exactly what is expected of that knowledge? Is there an expectation of v quick recall? Are they supposed to memorise them?

DC is in yr2 and knows most of their 2, 5 and 10s but often has to work them out by, say, counting in 5s rather than just knowing them off by heart which is what I remember doing. I’m not sure if I should be pushing them to speed up?

Knowing times tables on quick recall is very helpful for secondary level maths. It means a student can concentrate on the harder problem without having to think about the building blocks.
For example simplifying fractions, factorising quadratic, hcf/lcm. It is worth putting the time in in primary, when possible.

Yes, eventually.

My dd school focuses on accuracy first (all 12 tables in order, written out by rote). Then each times tables again, recall in random order. Then once that’s nailed, it’s speed. By end y6 aiming to be able to do instant recall of any times table fact without thinking (12 multiplication facts in 10 seconds, is the target!)

Once tables are mastered in order they also work on the division facts in parallel (ie 48/8= instead of 6x8=).

I have to say the maths curriculum at primary has left my dd with really strong mental arithmetic skills - she can estimate like a pro, and then figure out large and complex multiplication and division faster than I can, and this was very much taught not natural ability.