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Year 4 Autumn Block 2

Year 4 Autumn Week 5 Year 4 Autumn Week 6 Year 4 Autumn Week 7

Autumn Block 2: Addition and Subtraction – Year 4 Maths

This Year 4 addition and subtraction block helps pupils develop accuracy and confidence with both mental and written methods. Aligned with the White Rose Maths progression, the block is built around structured small steps that support secure calculation, including exchanging and efficient strategies.

Across three weeks, pupils add and subtract with 1s, 10s, 100s and 1,000s, then apply column methods to 2-, 3- and 4-digit numbers. They move from calculations with no exchange to one and multiple exchanges, before using estimation and the inverse to check answers and improve accuracy.

Resources are organised by small step and include planning, teaching slides and differentiated worksheets, with fluency, reasoning and problem-solving built in.

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White Rose small steps and curriculum objectives

Week 5

  • Add 1s, 10s, 100s and 1000s
  • Subtract 1s, 10s, 100s and 1000s
  • Add 2, 3 and 4-digit numbers with no exchange
  • Add up to 4-digit numbers with one exchange
  • Add up to 4-digit numbers with multiple exchanges

Week 6

  • Subtract from 4-digit numbers with no exchange
  • Subtract from 4-digit numbers with one exchange
  • Subtract from 4-digit numbers with multiple exchanges
  • Solve addition and subtraction problems with and without exchanges

Week 7

  • Find an efficient subtraction method
  • Estimate answers to calculations
  • Use the inverse and estimation to check answers

National Curriculum objectives

  • Add and subtract numbers with up to four digits using the formal written methods of columnar addition and subtraction where appropriate
  • Estimate and use inverse operations to check answers to a calculation
  • Solve addition and subtraction two-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why

Year 4 addition and subtraction resources – Autumn Block 2

This Year 4 addition and subtraction block builds secure calculation skills with four-digit numbers, supporting pupils to work accurately, use exchanging correctly, and choose efficient approaches. It follows the White Rose Maths small steps and is mapped to the Year 4 National Curriculum, so progression stays clear across the unit.

What’s included for each small step?

  • Teaching slides with clear modelling and worked examples
  • Differentiated worksheets for fluency, reasoning and problem-solving
  • Lesson planning with key questions and common misconceptions
  • Supporting resources such as activity cards and assessment materials where relevant

What pupils learn across the block

  • Add and subtract 1s, 10s, 100s and 1,000s using place value understanding
  • Use column addition and column subtraction with 2-, 3- and 4-digit numbers
  • Apply exchanging accurately, including one and multiple exchanges
  • Solve addition and subtraction problems in context and explain reasoning
  • Estimate answers and use the inverse to check calculations

Why this block matters

  • Builds secure written methods for multi-digit addition and subtraction
  • Strengthens place value understanding through accurate exchanging
  • Develops checking strategies to improve accuracy and confidence

If you’re following the White Rose Maths sequence, this Autumn Block 2 unit provides a clear progression and consistent models across the whole block.

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