Many parents feel nervous about helping with maths, especially when methods have changed since they were at school. The good news is that you do not need to be a mathematician. What children need most is regular practice, a calm attitude and someone who is interested in how they are thinking. This guide gives practical ways to help, from primary through to GCSE.
Start with attitude
Children pick up our feelings about maths. If you say "I was never good at it", they may decide it runs in the family. Try instead: "That looks tricky. Let's work it out." Praise effort and persistence, not just correct answers. Mistakes are how people learn maths, and it helps when children see you make them.
Primary years: build the foundations
Secure number skills are the base for everything later. At primary level, focus on:
- Number bonds and times tables. Quick recall frees up thinking for harder problems. Short, regular practice, a few minutes each day, works better than occasional drilling. Games, songs and quick-fire questions in the car all help.
- Place value and the four operations. Make sure your child understands why a method works, not just how to follow it.
- Maths in real life. Cooking, shopping, time, distances and money are all natural practice, and show why it matters.
- Language. Many children struggle with word problems because of reading, not maths. Talk about what a question is asking.
Secondary years: keep the gaps from growing
Maths builds on itself, so a gap from earlier years can make later topics feel impossible. If your child is struggling:
- Find the real gap. Ask the teacher, or look at recent tests. Often the problem lies a year or two back, such as fractions, percentages or algebra basics.
- Go back and rebuild. It may feel like a step backwards, but it speeds progress.
- Practise regularly, with short sets of questions rather than one long session before a test.
- Ask your child to explain. Teaching you is a powerful way to learn.
- Use mistakes. Keep a note of errors and revisit them a week later.
GCSE maths
At GCSE, maths is assessed by three exam papers at either foundation or higher tier. Foundation tier covers grades 1 to 5 and higher tier covers 4 to 9, so the right tier is an important decision for the school and family. Exam technique matters too: reading the question, showing working to earn method marks and checking answers. Our guide to how to revise for GCSE and A-Level covers routines that work, and our GCSE grades guide explains what the numbers mean.
Practical tips for homework
- Same time and place, with distractions away.
- Let them try first. Resist taking over the pencil. Ask questions such as "What do you know already?" and "What is the question asking?"
- Stop before frustration builds. A break and a fresh start often works wonders.
- Check understanding. Ask your child to explain how they got an answer, not just what it is.
- Talk to the teacher if homework is persistently too hard or takes far too long.
When to get a tutor
A tutor can help when your child has a clear gap, loses confidence, faces a big exam or simply works better with someone other than a parent. A good one explains things patiently, tracks progress and keeps you informed. See our GCSE maths tutors, A-Level maths tutors and primary tutors, or read the signs in when a child needs a tutor.
Next steps
For weekly lessons with the same tutor and a consultant overseeing progress, see the Partner plan. For tailored help, start with private tutoring and a free consultation.
