Institute of Education London

The development and importance of proficiency in basic calculation

Summary
Proficiency with numbers is important for everyday life, employment, and educational progression. One component of number proficiency is basic calculation, the addition of whole numbers with sums less than 20 and corresponding subtractions. Differences between children in basic calculation skill seem important because a) basic calculation proficiency is related to more general mathematical attainment, b) deficits in basic calculation are common in children with number difficulties, and c) there is continuity between number difficulties at primary school and adult number difficulties.

This project tracks a cohort of Year 3 Primary schoolchildren and their teachers over a year, collecting data on psychological, social, and educational factors that previous research has identified as important.  The data will be analyzed to assess explanations of how basic calculation proficiency develops and why it is linked to more general mathematical attainment.

Methods
Interviews of children and their teachers. Assessments with experimental tasks and standardised tests.