Our aim is that all children, by the end of Year 4, develop fluency and accuracy in all their times tables to 12. This can support their later learning when times tables is necessary and does not become a barrier to their learning, for example in fractions and perimeter.

Times tables should be taught explicitly 3 x a week (for approximately 5-10 minutes) alongside a weekly times tables test. This will begin in Year 2. The teaching of times tables will begin visually and develop to chanting, identifying patterns, cold calling, utilising a meter stick and formal written methods  1 x 1 = 1   1 x 2 = 2  etc…

When approximately 90% of the class are fluent, the teacher should move on to the next times table and set up an intervention for any children who require further learning time. Once the children have reached 12 x 12, they should be constantly reminded of inverse operations, division facts and spend time pattern spotting. The order times tables are taught should follow this structure:

1 x tables

2 x tables

5 x tables

10 x tables

3 x tables

4 x tables

8 x tables

6 x tables

9 x tables

7 x tables

11 x tables

12 x tables

One weekly times tables test should be carried out and recorded in a times tables book. Each child’s results should be recorded on the team’s data folder. All classrooms should have a times tables achievement wall so children/staff are aware of the tables they need to focus on.