Guidance

Teaching mathematics in primary schools

Guidance for teaching mathematics at key stages 1 and 2 to help pupils progress through the national curriculum.

Applies to England

Documents

Mathematics guidance: introduction

Mathematics guidance: year 1

Mathematics guidance: year 2

Mathematics guidance: year 3

Mathematics guidance: year 4

Mathematics guidance: year 5

Mathematics guidance: year 6

Mathematics guidance: key stages 1 and 2 (covers years 1 to 6)

Details

This guidance is for:

  • school leaders
  • teachers and other school staff
  • governing bodies

You can use this guidance to help plan teaching the statutory mathematics curriculum in primary schools in England. This guidance:

  • identifies the core concepts that are needed for pupils to progress in their study of mathematics
  • demonstrates how pupils can build their understanding of these concepts from year 1 to year 6

The guidance links to non-statutory guidance on teaching mathematics at key stage 3.

Short videos that introduce and summarise this guidance are also available.

Teachers may find this guidance helpful in planning and prioritising the curriculum following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This guidance is intended to support teaching. It can be used alongside other high-quality plans and resources, including textbooks.

The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics has produced a range of resources to support teachers using this guidance. This includes:

Further support for maths teachers is available through our maths hubs programme.

Updates to this page

Published 6 July 2020
Last updated 28 September 2021 + show all updates
  1. Added a link to the new guidance on teaching mathematics at key stage 3.

  2. Added a link to the support and materials available from the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching Mathematics.

  3. First published.

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