Times Tables
“Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.”
Multiplication Tables Check
At St Sebastian's, we prepare our Year 4 pupils for the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC), a statutory assessment introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) to ensure children can recall multiplication facts quickly and accurately. The MTC covers times tables from 2 to 12 and is designed to assess fluency and automatic recall, rather than problem-solving.
The check is completed online, with each child answering 25 timed questions. Children have 6 seconds per question, allowing teachers to monitor both speed and accuracy. The results help teachers identify which times tables a child knows confidently and which may need additional practice, enabling targeted support for every pupil.
The DfE guidance for parents recommends that children practise times tables regularly in a supportive environment and enjoy learning through games, songs, or interactive resources. At St Sebastian’s, we use a range of tools in line with this guidance:
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Times Tables Rock Stars, an engaging online programme children can use at home and in school
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Short, daily classroom sessions to reinforce recall and fluency
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Fun activities, challenges, and games to make learning times tables enjoyable
Supporting your child at home: Even just 5–10 minutes of daily practice can make a big difference. Parents are encouraged to celebrate progress, practise tables in real-life situations, and use the resources recommended by the DfE.
The MTC is not just an assessment — it is an opportunity for children to become confident, fluent mathematicians who can apply times tables in both school and everyday life.
Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRockStars)
At St Sebastian’s, we use Times Tables Rock Stars, an interactive online programme, to support the learning of times tables. This is particularly helpful in preparing children for the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) at the end of Year 4.
Times Tables Rock Stars makes learning times tables fun, competitive, and engaging. Children can play a variety of games both at school and at home, earn points for their “rock status,” and receive certificates to celebrate their progress.
We have been impressed with how motivated the children are when using this programme, as well as the speed and fluency with which they recall their times tables.
How it works:
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All children from Year 1 to Year 6 have their own login.
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Class teachers set specific times tables for each child to practise, in line with National Curriculum expectations.
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Regular practice at home will help children become confident and fluent in their multiplication facts.
We encourage parents and carers to support their child’s use of this resource — it’s a fun way to build essential maths skills!
If you have any questions about Times Tables Rock Stars, please speak to your child’s teacher.
Supporting your child with Times Tables
Learning times tables off by heart makes mental maths much easier. It will boost your child’s confidence in their maths lessons at school, but it’s also a skill they’ll use all the time in the world outside school.
Why is it important for my child to know the times tables?
When children know their times tables, mental arithmetic becomes easier. Practising times tables also helps children to understand number and number relationships, and to see patterns in numbers. These skills will help them to master key concepts and move quickly through more complex maths problems with confidence.
A thorough knowledge of multiplication and division facts will help children succeed in their tests at the end of primary school and set them up for success at secondary school. As they grow older, knowing the times tables will help them with everyday activities like shopping, budgeting and cooking.
When does my child need to know their times tables?
In England, children will be expected to know the following in each year at primary school:
- Year 1: count in multiples of 2, 5 and 10.
- Year 2: be able to remember and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables, including recognising odd and even numbers.
- Year 3: be able to remember and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables, including recognising odd and even numbers.
- Year 4: be able to remember and use multiplication and division facts for the multiplication tables up to 12 x 12.
- Year 5: revision of all multiplication and division facts for the multiplication tables up to 12 x 12
- Year 6: revision of all multiplication and division facts for the multiplication tables up to 12 x 12.
How are times tables taught at school?
Download OxfordOwl Times Tables in School to learn how children are first taught to use their fingers, counters, and paper to help them find the right number before moving on to reciting times tables. The booklet includes lots of tips and games to support learning at home, too.
What is the Year 4 multiplication tables check?
The new Year 4 multiplication tables check becomes statutory in 2020. Your child will need to take a short online test to make sure their times tables knowledge is at the expected level.
Times Tables Tips
Confidence with times tables really is important for children in primary school.
While it may seem tedious to practise times tables with your child and you might have bad memories of reciting times tables at school, by ensuring your child is confident with times tables you will be giving them some essential tools for success in maths.
Our times tables top tips will provide some useful advice and great ideas to help you support your child in learning their times tables.
1. Practise tables as a time-filler
When you’re sitting at traffic lights or waiting in the doctor’s surgery it is the perfect opportunity for a bit of times table practice! It’s always better (for both your child and you!) to just spend a few minutes reciting or testing times tables rather than going into overdrive and spending too long practising them.
2. Help them with the ones they find tricky
There are usually one or two multiplication facts in each times table that are more difficult. When you notice that your child is stumbling over the same fact each time, try to give them extra practice. You could even get your child to write the fact out in a fun way on a piece of card and then stick it somewhere prominent (like on the fridge) so that they have an extra reminder!
3. Use a number grid
Printing off a simple 10 x 10 number grid can be a great way to demonstrate how times tables relate to number sequences. You can get your child to colour in multiples of different numbers on different number squares so that they can clearly see the number patterns.
4. Make it real
The danger with too much rote learning of times tables is that children can fail to see the use of times tables in real life. Try to take opportunities to get your child to use multiplication in problem solving, for example working out quantities for scaling up a recipe, or calculating the price of more than one item of shopping.
5. Create a challenge
Make it fun by turning times table practice into a competition or challenge for your child, by timing them and keeping a record of their scores. You could even join in yourself and set a challenge to learn a more difficult times table, such as the 13 times table and get your child to test you at the end of the week in exchange for testing them.
Useful Times Tables Websites
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