Speedy addition in Year 2 Year 2 is an incredibly important year for children to get to grips with mental addition. If good progress is not made then children could well find themselves struggling with maths throughout school. The emphasis is firmly on mental arithmetic as children learn basic facts and pick up mental calculating skills. At first, in Early Years and into Year 1, children will use their fingers to count on when doing a sum such as 4 add 3. But, there comes a point when this piece of information has to be learned rather than worked out. That point is in Year 2. By the end of Year 2 children should know, off by heart, the answers to the addition of any two single digit numbers; adding 10 to single digits should also be included. For example, know, without having to work it out, that 3 and 5 make 8. This is knowing, not counting on from 5 to work it out, which is far too slow. The answer should come as quickly as if they had been asked their name! It cannot be emphasised enough how important this knowledge is. That means all addition up to 10 plus 10 has to be learned, just as multiplication tables have to be learned in later years. Not knowing these facts seriously hampers the speed of calculation necessary to succeed, as children are then expected to use this knowledge to answer questions such as add 30 to 50. Luckily we have a vast selection of mental addition pages in Year 2 but we have just added a further selection of rapid answer pages for adding two single digit numbers. If children know these facts the pages will be completed very quickly. If not, it could take some time! Last, but by no means least, don’t forget that our fun maths games in Year 2 provide endless opportunities to practice adding small numbers together. Go to Year 2 Addition worksheets Go to Year 2 Addition games