Children make huge progress with subtraction in Year 1. To start with there is a range of language to be understood, using terms such as take away, subtract, how many are left, how much less is, find the difference between, as well as the minus (-) sign. Children will need to come across these terms many times for them to be confident in their use.

Part-whole models can help to build understanding and to help children see any related subtractions, using the numbers in the part-whole model.

Most importantly children will begin to know, off by heart, the number bonds for numbers up to 10 (1 + 1, 2 + 3 etc) and when this has been established, up to 20 (7 + 4 etc). When these number bonds have been learned, children will be able to respond rapidly to oral questions such as ‘take 2 from 7’. It will be an immediate response, not an answer worked out by counting on fingers or similar method.

By the end of Year 1 children will be looking at subtracting from 20. The usual method of mentally subtracting is to ‘add on’. For example 20 – 7.

Add 3 to 7 to make 10 and then add a further 10 to make 20. Answer 3 + 10 which is 13.

Or, the ten could be added first to make 17 and then count on to 20. Either way is equally good, but the ultimate aim is to know these answers rather than to have to work them out.

We have a great selection of material to help with all the above aspects of subtraction in Year 1.

Why not take a look now?