Learning Difficulties
Dyscalculia
Make number concepts concrete and visual, reduce reliance on memory, and build confidence through structured, low-pressure practice.
Whole-class strategies
- Use concrete materials (counters, Numicon, base-ten blocks) before moving to pictures and then symbols.
- Display a number line, hundred square and times-table grid that pupils are always allowed to use.
- Teach one method consistently rather than several ways to solve the same problem.
- Link maths to real, meaningful contexts such as money, cooking or timetables.
Small-group strategies
- Pre-teach the vocabulary and steps of a new topic before the main lesson.
- Use lots of repetition and over-learning of core facts in short bursts.
- Model thinking aloud so pupils hear the steps, then do one together before independent work.
- Play dice, domino and card games to build number sense in a playful way.
Reducing pressure and memory load
- Allow calculators, multiplication grids and number lines for calculation-heavy tasks.
- Give fewer questions of the same type rather than a full page.
- Avoid timed tests where possible, or offer them without the class watching.
- Provide squared paper or a template to help line up columns of digits.
Do
- Check whether errors come from the maths or from reading the question.
- Praise correct steps even when the final answer is wrong.
- Let pupils explain their thinking verbally.
Avoid
- Don't rush pupils or single them out for quick mental recall.
- Don't assume a wrong answer means carelessness.
- Don't remove supports too early.