The Ultimate Fluency with Numbers Manifesto

 Since supporting hundreds of learners to become fluent with their maths facts in primary school, we’ve seen first-hand the impact fluency has on a child’s confidence, independence, and success in mathematics. It’s not just a “nice to have” — fluency is an essential tool for overall mathematical achievement (Nunes et al., 2012).

📚 Aims, Ideas & (Big) Intentions

Fluency is one of the three aims of the 2013 National Curriculum and a cornerstone of the NCETM’s Five Big Ideas for Teaching for Mastery. They define fluency as:

“Quick and efficient recall of facts and procedures and the flexibility to move between different contexts and representations of mathematics.”

But wait — there are calculators, computers, even Google! Surely kids don’t need to memorise their maths facts anymore? (Hint: THEY DO.) THE REASONS THEY DO (YES, THIS SHOULD BE IN ALL CAPS):

✅ It frees up working memory for more complex thinking.

"Becoming fluent with numbers reduces the cognitive load, thereby freeing resources for more advanced problem solving.” — Sweller, 2005

✅ It prevents performance breakdowns when tasks become more demanding.

“Learning higher-order skills requires more working memory. When working memory is overloaded, performance deficits are likely to occur.” — Eysenck & Calvo, 1992; Faust, Ashcraft, & Fleck, 1999

✅ It lays the groundwork for deeper concepts — from fractions and decimals to ratios, proportions, and algebraic reasoning. 

"Without fluency and automaticity in basic facts, higher-order skills become an uphill climb." — O'Donnell & SanGiovanni, 2011

❗ There’s a Problem

There’s a clear gap between what research shows works for developing fluency…
...and what often happens in our classrooms and homes.

🛑 Timed tests won’t boost recall speed.
As long as we keep putting children under pressure to recall facts at speed, we won’t erase the maths anxiety and low confidence that are still widespread across the UK. - Silva & White, 2013; National Numeracy, 2014

✅ The Better Way? Build Number Sense.

Number sense is the gateway to fluency — and it doesn’t come from drills or repetition alone. When we give children time, variety, and meaningful practice (not just pages of repetitive questions!), they begin to use numbers:

✔️ Flexibly
✔️ Efficiently
✔️ Accurately — with speed that comes naturally

And no, number sense isn’t just "something kids have or don’t."
It’s something we can teach — with intention, representation, discussion, and play.