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Reception to Year 6
Maths by year group
In England, children are grouped into school years by age. The school year runs from September to July, and everyone born between 1 September and the following 31 August is in the same year group. Children start in Reception in the September after they turn 4, then move up a year each September until Year 6, the last year of primary school.
If you're in the US, the grade is roughly one lower than the UK year number: Year 3 is about the same as Grade 2. Each guide below follows the National Curriculum in England (and the EYFS framework for Reception), says what children learn that year, and gives ideas, a challenge and free worksheets to help at home.
Choose a year group
How the years fit together
| Year group | Age | Stage | Roughly US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reception | 4 to 5 | Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) | Pre-K |
| Year 1 | 5 to 6 | Key Stage 1 | Kindergarten |
| Year 2 | 6 to 7 | Key Stage 1 | Grade 1 |
| Year 3 | 7 to 8 | Key Stage 2 | Grade 2 |
| Year 4 | 8 to 9 | Key Stage 2 | Grade 3 |
| Year 5 | 9 to 10 | Key Stage 2 | Grade 4 |
| Year 6 | 10 to 11 | Key Stage 2 | Grade 5 |
The ages are the age at the start and end of the school year: a child in Year 3 is 7 in September and turns 8 at some point before the following August. Scotland and Northern Ireland number their primary years differently (Primary 1 to Primary 7) and, like Wales, have their own curriculum, so the details there are a little different.
Key maths tests by year
| Year | Test | When | What it involves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reception | Reception Baseline Assessment | First six weeks of Reception | Short practical activities done one-to-one with a teacher, covering early maths and language. No pass or fail. |
| Year 2 | Key Stage 1 SATs | May, if used | No longer compulsory from 2023/24. Some schools still use the papers. |
| Year 4 | Multiplication Tables Check | June | 25 times tables questions on screen, 6 seconds each, up to 12 × 12. No pass mark. |
| Year 6 | Key Stage 2 SATs | May | An arithmetic paper and two reasoning papers. No calculators. |
Don't worry if your child seems ahead in one topic and behind in another. Children learn at different speeds, and summer-born children can be almost a year younger than others in their class. Use the guides to see what's coming next, and if something is worrying you, a quick chat with the class teacher usually helps more than extra worksheets.
Practise with Indie
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