One warning sign is difficulty explaining why an answer is correct. A child may produce the right answer through a memorised procedure without understanding the underlying concept. This can become a problem when mathematics becomes more complex.

Common areas to check include place value, fractions, decimals, percentages, multiplication and division, measurement, geometry, patterns and mathematical reasoning.

Word problems are particularly useful for diagnosis. Ask your child to solve a problem and explain their thinking aloud. If they can calculate confidently but struggle to determine which operation or strategy is required, the issue may be mathematical reasoning rather than computation.

Mistakes should also be categorised.

Was the error caused by:

• Lack of conceptual understanding?

• A calculation mistake?

• Misreading the question?

• Choosing the wrong strategy?

• Difficulty managing multiple steps?

Once the cause is identified, targeted practice becomes much more effective than simply completing additional worksheets.

Parents can create a simple learning-gap checklist and review it every few weeks. Focus on mastering one weakness before moving to another.

The objective is not to accelerate through advanced topics prematurely. It is to ensure that foundational concepts are secure enough to support secondary-school mathematics.