Key Stage 1 · Ages 6–7 · UK National Curriculum

Year 2 Maths — What Your Child Will Learn

Year 2 is the consolidation year for Key Stage 1. Children move from understanding numbers to 20 up to 100, begin the 2, 5 and 10 times tables, and start working with simple fractions. Most schools also sit the optional KS1 SATs in May — making Year 2 the first year where structured practice makes a measurable difference.

What Your Child Will Learn in Year 2 Maths

Numbers to 100 Number bonds to 20 (rapid recall) Multiplication — 2, 5 and 10 times tables Division as sharing and grouping Fractions (½, ⅓, ¼, ¾) Place value (tens and ones) Measurement (cm, m, kg, litres) Time (quarter past and quarter to) Statistics (tally charts and pictograms) Properties of 2D and 3D shapes

What Children Often Find Difficult

What children struggle with

Division as the inverse of multiplication
Quarter to vs quarter past on an analogue clock
Fractions greater than a half
Reading scales on rulers and weighing scales
Multi-step word problems

Common mistakes to watch for

Thinking a quarter is bigger than a half because 4 > 2
Writing 15 as 51 (digit reversal)
Confusing quarter to and quarter past
Adding instead of multiplying in grouping questions
Misreading pictogram scales where each symbol is worth more than 1

How You Can Help at Home

Start the 2 and 10 times tables now

The 2, 5 and 10 times tables are the Year 2 priority. Chant them in the car. Children who have these fluent before Year 3 find multiplication and division significantly easier for the next four years.

📝

KS1 SATs — what to expect

KS1 SATs are optional from 2023 but most schools still sit them in May Year 2. Paper 1 tests arithmetic and Paper 2 tests reasoning. Regular practice with both formats from January helps.

🕐

Say the full phrase when reading the clock

When reading the clock together, always say the complete phrase — ‘quarter past two’ — not just the time. Consistent phrasing prevents the quarter to / quarter past confusion.

KS1 SATs — Year 2 Assessment

KS1 SATs are optional for schools from 2023 but most still sit them in May. Paper 1 tests arithmetic and Paper 2 tests reasoning. Topics include number bonds to 20, simple multiplication, fractions, measurement and data — all core Year 2 curriculum. Strong Year 2 foundations also feed directly into Year 6 KS2 SATs.

KS1 SATs optional — most schools still sit Paper 1 Arithmetic Paper 2 Reasoning Number bonds, multiplication & fractions tested

Example Homework Questions

Question

20 children sit in groups of 5. How many groups?

Expected Answer

4

Skill Tested

Division as grouping

Question

What is three quarters of 12?

Expected Answer

9

Skill Tested

Fractions of amounts

Question

What time does the clock show when the big hand is on 9?

Expected Answer

Quarter to

Skill Tested

Analogue time reading

See Exactly Where Your Year 2 Child Needs Support

The jump from Year 1 to Year 2 is significant. Out of School tracks performance topic by topic — so you can see at a glance whether your child has the times tables, fractions and clock-reading skills they need before the optional KS1 SATs in May.

📊

Topic-by-topic tracking

See which curriculum areas are strong and which need work — broken down by individual topic, not just a single percentage.

📋

Homework visibility

Every piece of homework set is visible to parents in real time — questions, answers, and accuracy — as soon as the session ends.

📝

Tutor reports

After every session, parents receive a progress update covering what was covered, what went well, and what to focus on next.

Start 1 Month Free Trial — Track Your Child’s Year 2 Maths Progress

Explore by Year Group

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 11 Plus