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My Child Is Behind in Maths — Here's What to Do

Published 2026-07-15

Maybe it was a parents' evening, a test result, or a comment from the teacher — however you found out, hearing that your child is behind in maths lands like a punch. First, breathe. This is fixable, it's more common than you think, and there's a clear plan you can start today. Here's exactly what to do.

First, Don't Panic

A child being behind in maths at primary school is genuinely common and rarely permanent. Children develop at different rates, gaps appear for all sorts of reasons — a missed topic, a tricky year, a wobble in confidence — and the vast majority catch up with the right support. Your calm matters, too: an anxious parent makes an anxious child, and anxiety is the enemy of maths. So take the pressure off, yourself included.

Work Out Where the Gap Is

"Behind in maths" is broad. The most useful first step is understanding what specifically your child is struggling with. Ask the teacher — they'll tell you exactly where the gaps are. If it's more than just maths, see our guide on helping a child who's behind at school. Very often it comes down to shaky foundations: times tables that never became automatic, or number facts that aren't secure. Pinning down the specific gap lets you target it, rather than vaguely worrying about "maths."

Go Back to the Foundations

Maths is a tower — each level rests on the one below. If your child is behind, it's usually because a lower level isn't solid, making everything above it wobble. The fix is to go back and firm up those foundations, especially times tables and basic number fluency. It feels like going backwards, but it's how you build a base to move forwards from. Our guide on helping a child who's fallen out with maths helps here too.

Start Short, Daily Practice

Catching up doesn't mean marathon sessions — those cause burnout and resentment. Short, daily practice is how gaps close: ten focused minutes a day, consistently, rebuilds fluency far better than an hour once a week. Little and often, starting today. Our post on 5-minute daily learning explains why.

Rebuild Confidence Alongside Skill

A child who's fallen behind often believes they're "bad at maths," and that belief holds them back as much as the gap itself. So as you rebuild skills, rebuild confidence: start with things they can succeed at, celebrate wins, and never make maths feel like punishment. Our guides on maths anxiety and building learning confidence go deeper.

Make It Something They'll Actually Do

The catch with any catch-up plan is getting your child to engage. This is where a motivating, low-pressure approach matters — practice they'll willingly do beats a perfect plan they resist. The Pocket Money Game can help right now: short daily maths practice starting from the foundations, where your child earns real pocket money for correct answers, so they actually want to do it. It's free to try for 7 days with no card needed, so you can start closing the gap today without any risk.

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Read next: When your child is behind on times tables · Helping a child who hates maths · Maths anxiety in children