St Mary’s Maths Methods
Notes
Addition
In every year group Set out sums in
horizontal way before
going onto column
addition method.
Preparing for
Year 3
Estimate first
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Estimate first
Estimate first
Estimate first
Estimate first
Number line
and then move
onto Yr 3
methods
43 + 28 =
Recap on Yr 3
methods first.
Recap on Yr 4
Recap on Yr 5
methods first.
methods first.
Including place
value.
Column addition.
Scaffold for place
132.79 + 6.2 +1.06 =
value: H T U.1/10 1/100
132.79
Column addition
6.20
1269
+
1.06
+3432
140.05
4701
Add the largest
number first
40 + 3
20 + 8
60 + 11 = 60
+11
71
When ready
move onto
column
addition.
43
+28
71
Remember to put 0 in
as a place holder.
Place the 10 on
the doorstep
Estimate first
Recap place value
and partitioning
1269 + 3432 =
1269
+3432
11 add units
90 add tens
600 add Hs
+ 4000 add Ths
4701
11.4 + 14 + 0.37 =
11.4
14.00
+ 0.37
25.77
Notes
Preparing for
Year 3
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Subtraction
Estimate first
Recap on Yr 2 methods
first.
Estimate first
Recap on Yr 3
methods first.
Estimate first
Recap on Yr 4
methods first.
Estimate first
Recap on Yr 5
methods first.
Estimate first
In every set/year
group -
Using a 10, 20 and
100 Number line
and then move
onto Yr 3 methods
43 – 27 =
Column methods used
Find the difference and
finding the change by
counting on
Pop to the next door
for help. Take a
ten/hundred/thousand
2 0 0 4
- 1 6 3 7
3 6 7
Extend Year 5
methods Set 1
and 2 go on to
higher
numbers.
Set out sums in
horizontal way
before going onto
column addition
method
Estimate first
Recap place
value/partitioning
 Remember
to put
0 in as a place
holder
+3 +10 +3 = 16
______________________
0 <-27 30 40 43
Move on to TU/HTU
column subtraction
initially using
partitioning - extend to
carrying
tens/hundreds
312 – 106 =
300 10
- 100 0
200 0
(10+2)
2
6
6
=206
Set 1 and Set 2 when
ready extend to column
subtraction - extend to
carrying
tens/hundreds
H T U
106.03 – 1.49 =
3 1 2
-1 0 6
2 0 6
-
Th H T U
Decomposition
2 0 6 0
- 1 6 2 3
4 3 7
Find by counting
back. This needs
quite good
mathematical ability.
(2nd or 1st group)
43 - 27 =
start
here
-4
-3 -10 -10
_________________
_
16 20 23 33
43
=16
1 0 6· 0 3
1.49
1 0 4. 5 4
10
34 23 102
-1 7 6
2 5 6
Notes
Preparing for
Year 3
Multiplication
In every set/year group
 Set out sums in
horizontal way
before going onto
column multiplication
method
 Estimate first
 Recap place
value/partitioning
 Remember to put 0
in as a place holder
Estimate first
Practical work on
grouping.
Grouping on a
number line.
Introduction to x
sign and related
vocabulary
Using arrays e.g.
*****
*****
Pupils aware that
2x5=5x2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Recap on Yr 2
methods first.
Recap on Yr 3 methods first.
Recap on Yr
4 methods
first.
Recap on Yr 5
methods first.
Estimate first
43 x 5 =
40 x 5 = 200
3 x 5 = 15
215
Estimate first
Grid Method
e.g. 128 X 31 =
x
100
20
8
57.3 x 11.1 =
30 3000 600 240 =3840
Introduce
simple grid
method
Model with
place value
equipment
13 x 4 =
10
3
4 40 + 12 = 52
1 100
20
Estimate first
Estimate first
573
111
573
3730
+573 00
61603
Refer to
methods
Used in Yrs 4
and 5
x
8 = 128
3968
128
x32
256
3840
4096
From
estimated
number
decide where
to place the
decimal
point.
X
100
20
8
.
30
3000
600
240
=
3840
1
100
20
8
=
128
3968
Notes
Division
In every set/year
group 
Set out sums in
horizontal way
before going onto
column
multiplication
method

Estimate first

Recap place
value/partitionin
g

Remember to
put 0 in as a
place holder
SN
Estimate first
Practical work
on grouping and
sharing.
Understand that
division is
repeated
subtraction
Understand
division as
groups on a
number line
Grouping on a
number line.
( vertical and
horizontal
lines)
Introduce the
division signs.
Yr 3
Recap on Yr 2
methods first.
Yr4
Recap on Yr 3
methods first.
Yr5
Recap on Yr 4
methods first.
Yr6
Recap on Yr 5
methods first.
Estimate first
Estimate first
Estimate first
Estimate first
Practical work
on grouping and
sharing.
Bus stop
method
With remainders
Short division
48 ÷ 4 = 12
1 6 9r3
4 | 6 27 39
Bus stop
method
extended
Include
remainders to 2
decimal places
(Show carrying)
Bus stop method
12
4 | 48
Introduce
chunking
Chunking
method
37
23 | 867
230
637
230
407
230
177
115
62
46
16
r 16
(x10)
(x10)
(x10)
(x5)
(x2)
Go onto long
division