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Maths

Go to the wall for Year 1

By Ruth Merttens - 1 Jul 2018

You are aiming to teach all Year 1 children age-related expectations by the end of the year. But what are the basic skills that you can't let them leave your class without?

Hamilton's 'Go to the Wall' skills are the heart of what enables children to become successful in maths. They are the building blocks of maths without which children will be blocked from making further progress. All children need to work towards age-related expectations throughout the year. But you need to be sure that children are confident in these 'Go to the Wall' mathematical skills before year-end. EVERY child should possess ALL these ground-level skills as they leave Year 1.

  • Count on and back in ones to and from 100 and from any single-digit or 2-digit number.
  • Count on and back in tens from any 1-digit or 2-digit number, e.g. 23, 33, 43, 53... Continue to just over 100.
  • Locate any number on a 1-100 grid or a beaded line 0-100.
  • Know number bonds to 10, e.g. 5 + 5, 6 + 4, etc. Also know what is left if objects are taken from 10, e.g. 10 fingers, fold down 4, leaves 6 standing.
  • Begin to be aware of unit patterns, e.g.
unit-patterns.png
  • Recognise the + and – and = signs, and use these to read and write simple additions and subtractions.
  • Add small numbers by counting on and subtract small numbers by counting back.
  • Recognise doubles to double 6 and find related halves (half even numbers ≤12).
  • Recognise the difference between 2-D and 3-D shapes; identify and describe common 2-D and 3-D shapes.
  • Recognise and compare objects according to height or length, weight or capacity, using appropriate mathematical language, e.g. the tree is taller than the bush, the bag is heavier than the shoes, the teapot holds more than the jug.
  • Tell the time to the half hour on analogue and digital clocks.
  • Sort items into lists or tables.

We strongly recommend that you ensure that your children fully master these skills by tracking them through the year.

Download a monitoring template for Year 1