Times tables are crucial to almost all of the maths covered at primary school, including multiplication and division, fractions, percentages, ratio, algebra, problem solving...

By the end of year 2, pupils should know their 2s, 5s and 10s.

By the end of year 3, pupils should know their 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 8s and 10s.

By the end of year 4, pupils should know all their times tables up to 12 x 12!

Therefore, we spend a lot of time working on them, and we hope that you will support that learning at home. Pupils are often very good at chanting the times tables in order (0, 2, 4, 6, 8...) and this is a great starting point for them. The times tables are listed at the bottom of this text, and it is also helpful if children recite the full phrase for each times table fact, especially in the earlier years. This helps to embed the fact as well as the sequence. 

Beyond this, pupils should aim to know all the multiplication facts as quickly as possible. As well as chanting the sequence, try firing quick recall questions from a times table (e.g. 6 x 5, 5 x 12 - please encourage children to understand that numbers can be multiplied in any order, known as the commutative law; they'll be a lot more adept with their times tables facts once they've realised this!).

Also, try scatter tables. Write down the multiplication facts up to 12 x a focus number in random places on a sheet of paper. Call out a times table question (e.g. 7 x 8) and your child should point to the correct answer. You can turn this on its head by writing down the calculations and calling out the answer; your child should then point to the correct calculation. 

Times table races can be motivating - your child should write down a given times table from 0 to 12x the number as quickly as possible. Time their performance on a stop watch. Jot down their fastest times for each times table and keep them handy, and their goal is always to beat their best time.

There are many, many online games to help children with times tables. Of course, Times Tables Rock Stars is something the children are enjoying in school and hopefully at home. There are plenty of other web sites and games, some of which are covered on this site under a link entitled 'Games and links for maths.'