Multiplication Tables Check and Times Tables

Times Tables at Our Lady's

At Our Lady Mother of the Saviour Catholic Primary School, we place a strong emphasis on the secure and fluent recall of multiplication and division facts. This is because fluency in times tables underpins success across the wider mathematics curriculum.

From September 2025, we introduced a consistent, whole-school approach to the teaching of times tables from Year 1 to Year 6. This approach ensures that all children build their knowledge cumulatively over time, rather than relying on short-term learning in a single year group.

How Times Tables Are Taught

From Year 1 onwards, children take part in a short, daily times tables session. These sessions are carefully structured to support both understanding and recall.

Across each half term, children experience a range of approaches, including:

• Exploring fact connections and relationships between numbers
• Counting, chanting and singing to develop pattern
• Skip counting on number lines or counting sticks
• Games and activities to support engagement and recall
• Practice in order (e.g. 2 × 1, 2 × 2, 2 × 3)
• Practice out of order to develop quick recall

As children move through the school, they revisit previously taught facts alongside new learning. This ensures that knowledge is retained over time and not forgotten.

Building Fluency Over Time

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that children learn times tables in a structured order and revisit them regularly. The intention is that:

• In Key Stage 1, children focus on counting in steps and learning the 2, 5 and 10 times tables.
• In Lower Key Stage 2, children build on this by learning additional tables and developing speed and accuracy.
• By the end of Year 4, children are expected to know all multiplication facts up to 12 × 12.
• In Years 5 and 6, this knowledge is applied and extended within the wider mathematics curriculum.

This approach ensures that fluency is developed gradually and securely across the school, rather than being introduced too late.

Assessment and Monitoring

Children complete regular, low-stakes assessments to check their recall of times tables. These are used by teachers to identify gaps and ensure that teaching is responsive to pupils’ needs.

This means that:

• difficulties are identified early
• learning is revisited where needed
• all children are supported to achieve success

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC)

In Year 4, all children nationally take part in the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC).

This is an online check where pupils are asked to recall multiplication facts up to 12 × 12.

Our approach ensures that children are well prepared over time, rather than relying on additional preparation in Year 4 alone. The focus is on developing secure, automatic recall that supports both the MTC and wider mathematical learning.

Why this matters

We want our pupils to:

• recall multiplication facts quickly and accurately
• apply this knowledge confidently in their maths learning
• develop strong foundations for future mathematical success

By teaching times tables consistently from Year 1 onwards, we ensure that all pupils are given the best possible opportunity to succeed.