Why is it important to learn times tables?

Times tables are fundamental to many aspects of mathematics and it is therefore very important for children to work hard to learn their times tables. The Government has set out the following times tables that children should know in each year group. Year 1 – count in multiples of 2, 5 and 10. Year 2  – recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 times tables. Year 3 – recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 times tables.  Years 4, 5 and 6 – recall and use multiplication and division facts for all times tables up to 12×12. The Government has requested that all pupils in Year 4 take a Times Tables Check to determine whether children can recall their times tables. More information can be found by clicking here.

The image below shows some of the areas where times tables are used: