Understanding National Curriculum levels in mathematics
Using and Applying
(Ma1)
Level 2
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Level 3
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Supported (emerging
mathematics)
Teacher led
Children explain with
prompting
Reasoning and
communicating are key
More independence after
teacher modelling
Children reason with
examples
Check work and results
Number (Ma2)
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Level 4
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Independent – children
have ownership
Test ideas with selected
methods
Organise work and results
Justify
Self evaluation of ideas
and methods
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Shape, space and
measures (Ma3)
Place value to 100
Sequences in fixed steps (2s and 10s)
Recognise odd and even numbers
½ and ¼ of shapes and halve numbers up to 20
Focus on +/-, including using appropriate operation
and inverse
Doubling and halving
Number bonds to 10 and links to further known
facts e.g. 30+70
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Place value to 1000
X/÷ whole numbers by 10
Approximating and estimating
Negative numbers in context
Sequences (multiples of 2, 5 and 10)
Find unit fractions of shapes and quantities,
recognise fractions that are several parts of the
whole and find simple equivalence (½)
Decimals for money
Balancing sums
Number bonds to 20
+/- written methods
2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 x tables (begin to know 6, 7, 8 and
9) and related ÷ facts
Focus on x/÷ including remainders and problems
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Formal and efficient written methods for all 4
operations
X/÷ whole numbers by 10 and 100
Complements to 1000
Decimals – ordering, sequences, use with 4
operations, 3 places, all contexts, inverse…
Factors, multiples, square numbers…
Equivalent fractions to several part fractions e.g.
2/3
Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and
vice versa
Equivalence between fractions, decimals, %
Ratio
Brackets
Tables to 10 x 10, including related ÷ facts
Two-step problems
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Name 2D and 3D shapes
(common)
Know basic properties of 2D
and 3D shapes
Ordinal positioning
Angles and ‘turns’
Length and mass
Non-standard and standard
units
Handling Data (Ma4)
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Name and know properties of
more complex shapes
Classify shapes and explain
Know vocabulary and
terminology (including position
and direction)
Regular/irregular
Obtuse/acute
Reflection (including 45° angle
from mirror line)
Recognise nets
Length, capacity, mass and
time
Area and perimeter
Measure to nearest ½ cm
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Use and understand
vocabulary
Know names of triangles and
quadrilaterals
Recognise and draw shapes in
different orientations
Translation and rotational
symmetry
Construct nets
Measure to nearest 2mm
Measure and draw angles
Begin to use area formula
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Collect and sort data
(teacher led – support and
direction)
Tables, lists, pictograms and
block graphs
Sort using 1 criteria
Record data in units of 1
Understand simple
vocabulary
Respond to simple questions
Decide what information to
collect for a given question
Construct bar charts and
pictograms
Sort using more than 1
criteria (Venn and Carroll
diagrams)
Scales of 2, 5 and 10 to
record units
Understand and use
vocabulary
Interpret data and answer
more complex questions
Simple probability
Children to choose how to
collect, record and explain
data for given question
Use of more complex scales
(draw and interpret between
divisions)
Compare criteria and sets of
data
Construct frequency tables
and line graphs
Interpret pie charts
Mode and range
Understand the language of
probability
Bexley Primary Mathematics Team – Year 4 training November 2008