Dyscalculia and Times Tables: Ways to Help

For most children, forgetting times tables is fixed by better practice. For some, though, numbers themselves are hard to make sense of, and facts simply don't stick however much they practise. That may be dyscalculia. Here's what it is, the signs to discuss with school, and approaches that genuinely help with times tables.

What is dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty affecting number sense (the intuitive feel for quantities) and the ability to learn and recall arithmetic facts. It's unrelated to intelligence: children with dyscalculia may be strong readers, creative thinkers and good at reasoning. Estimates of how common it is vary, but figures of around 3 to 6 in every 100 people are often quoted.

What are the signs to look out for?

• Still counting on fingers for simple sums long after classmates have stopped.
• Difficulty seeing that a group of four dots is four without counting.
• Trouble judging which of two numbers is bigger, or estimating.
• Difficulty counting backwards or in steps.
• Learning a fact one day and genuinely not recognising it the next.
• High anxiety around maths. See maths anxiety in children.

One or two of these on their own is common and not a cause for concern. If several persist over time, speak to your child's teacher or the school's SENCo, who can arrange an assessment.

How can you help with times tables?

1. Make it visual. Show every fact as an array of dots or objects. The multiplication visualiser draws facts row by row, so 3 × 4 is something you can see, not just a string of words.
2. A few facts at a time. Master two or three facts before adding more.
3. Teach strategies, not just recall. Doubling (4s from 2s), using 10s and 5s, and turn-around facts let a child work out what they can't remember. Our times tables tricks list one per table.
4. Short, frequent reviews. Even more important than for other children. Our smart practice keeps reviewing each fact at growing intervals.
5. No timers. Time pressure makes things much harder.
6. Use the number line. Skip counting on a number line builds the idea of equal steps.

Is using a times table chart cheating?

No. For a child with dyscalculia, a times table chart lets them join in with harder maths (division, fractions, area) rather than being stuck at the first step. Keep working on recall alongside it. Many schools allow charts as a reasonable adjustment.

What about the Year 4 check?

The Multiplication Tables Check has access arrangements, and in some cases a child may not be entered. Discuss this with school well in advance.

What else helps?

Patience, and progress measured against your child's own starting point. Our readable Dyslexia Font setting in My Player can also help children who find digits hard to tell apart.