Laura Dell | HFL Education

Laura Dell

laura.dell@hfleducation.org

Laura Dell

KS2 Arithmetic 2026 – Part 2: Noticing and making connections

KS2 Arithmetic 2026 – Part 2: Noticing and making connections

07 September 2026

Using questions from the 2026 KS2 arithmetic paper, we explore how mathematical success is not just about knowing methods, but about noticing relationships, recognising structure and choosing efficient strategies before calculating.

KS2 Arithmetic 2026 – Part 1: What's changed, what's stayed the same?

KS2 Arithmetic 2026 – Part 1: What's changed, what's stayed the same?

03 September 2026

On the surface, the 2026 KS2 arithmetic paper contains few surprises, but closer analysis reveals important trends. In this blog we explore the similarities and differences across recent papers and what they might mean for classroom practice and rehearsal.

Diving into the 2025 KS2 SATS Arithmetic Paper: Using the Question Level Analysis

Diving into the 2025 KS2 SATS Arithmetic Paper: Using the Question Level Analysis

03 February 2026

Explore insights from the 2025 KS2 arithmetic paper, using Question Level Analysis to identify strengths, gaps, and strategies for improving pupils’ fluency and conceptual understanding of high-value areas in maths.

Measure made visual: bar modelling with the 2025 Maths Reasoning Paper 3

Measure made visual: bar modelling with the 2025 Maths Reasoning Paper 3

04 November 2025

Looking to boost KS2 maths problem solving and reasoning? This blogs takes a look at how to use bar modelling for questions involving measure in the End of KS2 SATs 2025 Reasoning Paper 3.

Classroom with students in uniform and teacher

Simplifying fractions, decimals, and percentages in KS2 maths lessons with beadstrings

How to simplify key stage 2 maths teaching with beadstrings for fractions, decimals, and percentages.

Illustration of an ant in black pen

Creative ways to teach multiplication and division with beadstrings: One Hundred Hungry Ants activities

11 February 2025

Discover engaging multiplication and division activities using beadstrings and One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J Pinczes. Fun learning in primary maths for World Book Day.

Maths learning wall in classroom

The power of the bar model part 2: Year 6 SATs 2024 reasoning paper 3 – questions and answers

01 October 2024

Explore how to use bar models to solve questions from the Year 6 SATs 2024: reasoning paper 3.

Cuisenaire rods

Inspire me! The CPA approach: using Cuisenaire Rods to reason with fractions SATs questions

Packed with modelling videos, this blog shows how to use Cuisenaire Rods as a simple tool to solve KS1 & KS2 fractions problems.

Cuisenaire Rods on grey background

Inspire me! The CPA approach: using Cuisenaire Rods to explore fractions

Packed full of practical ideas, investigations and games to secure understanding of fractions: The CPA approach in action.

Coloured rods

Inspire me! Using Cuisenaire Rods to explore calculation strategies

06 February 2024

In the second blog in our new ‘Inspire Me’ series, we explore how Cuisenaire Rods can be used to develop additive maths fluency.

School children sat at desks

How to use the KS2 reasoning SATs papers to teach children problem-solving skills

23 September 2022

A step-by-step approach to teaching problem-solving exemplified through the 2022 KS2 SATs paper 2.

Hand holding pencil

Analysis of the 2022 KS2 maths SATs arithmetic paper (part 1) – the importance of place value and multiplicative reasoning

20 September 2022

We explore the differences between the 2019 and 2022 arithmetic papers. What can we learn?