Children to know times tables by 9

Children could be required to learn and know their times tables and division facts by age 9, amid new plans to tighten up the productivity of the Nation Curriculum, it is claimed in an article in The Telegraph today.

Thoroughly needed I would say. Once a firm grip of multiplication sums have been mastered, the mathematical world is a child's oyster. A confidence in times tables, without a doubt, leads to further confidence in other areas of numeracy. Countless times I have taught topics such as area, an uphill struggle when working with a child who has not yet mastered their times tables.

My daughter is nine, and confident with her 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, and 11, times tables. She is not a wizz at numeracy but thoroughly enjoys it. Forced to reflect, I've concluded that with minimal extra effort she would, by now, be unruffled by the remaining  times tables. It seems a reasonable request to make and one that would be hugely beneficial to all children in numerous ways.

The Multiplication.com website has brilliant ideas and fresh approaches for teaching children times tables. What methods do you use that have proved successful?