Dyscalculia Assessment

At Beat Dyscalculia we believe that children can fail in Maths for a number of reasons:

  • A specific learning difficulty related to the understanding and processing of numbers

  • A specific learning difficulty related to the understanding and processing of language

  • The organising difficulties associated with Dyslexia

  • Reading difficulties

  • Visual perceptual difficulties

  • Inappropriate teaching methods

  • Concentration problems

  • Working memory deficit

  • Lack of confidence

Since the causes of the problem can be complex and varied we think that addressing the difficulties in a universally accepted, highly structured, multisensory way should be the priority.

Signs of dyscalculia

As a young child

  • Struggled to learn to count

  • Struggled to learn the symbols for the digits (written numbers)

  • Struggled to associate the symbol e.g. 5 with real objects

  • Struggled to recognise the patterns in numbers

  • Struggles to know and apply the processes of addition ,subtraction,multiplication and division

  • Struggles with 1 more than and 1 less than

  • Has difficulty learning and translating the language of number processes e.g.what does “times” mean?

  • Has difficulty applying concepts I.e.cannot readily see that since 5+2=7, 2+5 will also =7 and it follows that 7-2=5 and 7-5=2

  • Has difficulty memorising number bonds (the pairs of numbers that go together to make a number)

  • Does not understand the concept of place value, hundreds, tens and units. How many ones make a ten and how many tens make a hundred

If you have ticked 5 or more of these and progress in numeracy is below what the school expects for your child, then we would suggest testing for Dyscalculia.

Beat Dyscalculia Pack 1 helps with all of these, using the Addacus and a programme full of highly structured, multi-sensory teaching which is fun and easy to deliver.

At age 9 and above

  • Continues to struggle with number bonds and always counts on fingers

  • Still struggling with understanding the processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division

  • Hasn’t managed to learn 2,5 or 10 times tables

  • Struggles to grasp the difference between the “teen” 14,15 and the “Ty” 40, 50

  • Confuses numbers i.e. 51 for 15?

  • Transposes and reverses numbers, when reading or writing?

  • Struggles with the vocabulary related to the processes Minus, Subtract, Take away, Less; Add, Plus, Add on, More; Times, Multiply; Divide; Share equally; How many threes in 12?

All these topics are addressed in Beat Dyscalculia Pack 2 which teaches the numbers from 10 to 99; multiplication and division and the times tables 2,3,4 and 5.

Do you/your child have problems:

  • Learning the times tables

  • Working out simple money and change

  • Estimating numbers: Tens, Hundreds, Thousands

  • Understanding fractions

  • Understanding concepts of place value, carrying and borrowing

  • Telling the time and concepts related to time

  • Answering a question correctly but being unable to describe the method used to get the answer

Beat Dyscalculia Pack 3 teaches:

Hundreds tens and units

Introduces: Fractions, Money, Decimals, Time

Practises addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using bigger numbers.

Memorising of facts and concepts is done using music, drama, colour, rhyming and games.

Hope that helps.