At home, the priority is to use the method taught in school and keep the rest of the maths within reach. A multiplication grid, calculator or worked example may be appropriate where calculation difficulty would otherwise block the whole task.

Agree the approach with school

Ask for:

• a completed example of the expected method;

• the way it is written and the words used in lessons;

• the aids permitted for homework;

• which calculations should still be practised without an aid.

Keep these distinctions clear. Using a calculator to access an algebra or problem-solving task is different from practising a calculation method.

Use a checking routine

Before calculating, estimate the likely range. Enter the values carefully, then compare the result with the estimate and add the correct unit.

For example, if five items cost £7.90 each, expect a result close to £40. A calculator result of £395 should trigger a check of the decimal point or entry.

Do not introduce a competing method. If school sets maths homework on an online platform such as Sparx Maths (paid), let them try first. If they are stuck, watch the short help video for that question together before explaining it your own way. The platform uses their answers to decide what to set next, so too much help can make later homework too hard.

If the young person cannot follow the school example, or the agreed aid does not remove the barrier, share the exact question and error with the maths teacher.

Talamo has no commercial relationship with any of the organisations named here. We suggest them only because we think they could be useful to families.