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Year 5 Autumn Block 2: Addition and Subtraction

Autumn Block 2: Addition and subtraction (Year 5)

This Year 5 addition and subtraction block helps pupils develop efficient mental and written calculation strategies when working with larger whole numbers. Aligned with White Rose Maths and the Year 5 National Curriculum, the block builds confidence with formal written methods, estimation and problem solving.

Across the block, pupils refine mental calculation strategies, add and subtract numbers with more than four digits, and use rounding to estimate and check answers. They also explore inverse operations, solve increasingly complex multi-step problems and develop deeper understanding by comparing calculations and finding missing numbers.

Resources are organised into comprehensive lesson packs. Each pack contains detailed planning, teaching slides, differentiated worksheets and supporting activities covering the small steps listed below. Additional assessment materials, revision resources and knowledge organisers are also included separately.

Week 4 small steps

  • Mental strategies
  • Add whole numbers with more than four digits
  • Subtract whole numbers with more than four digits
  • Round to check answers
  • Inverse operations (addition and subtraction)

Week 5 small steps

  • Multi-step addition and subtraction problems
  • Compare calculations
  • Find missing numbers

National Curriculum objectives

  • Add and subtract whole numbers with more than four digits, including using formal written methods
  • Add and subtract numbers mentally with increasingly large numbers
  • Use rounding to check answers to calculations and determine levels of accuracy
  • Solve addition and subtraction multi-step problems in contexts, deciding which operations and methods to use and why
  • Round any number up to 1,000,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 and 100,000

Part of Maths Masters

These Year 5 addition and subtraction resources form part of our complete Maths Masters scheme. Explore the full autumn term sequence for structured progression, interactive teaching slides and differentiated maths activities.

Explore year 5 autumn maths

Download our free Year 5 maths yearly overview | Explore maths subject leader resources

Developing addition and subtraction skills in Year 5

This Year 5 addition and subtraction block helps pupils develop accuracy, efficiency and confidence when working with larger numbers. Through carefully sequenced lessons, pupils strengthen both mental and written calculation strategies while learning to justify their methods and evaluate the reasonableness of answers.

Aligned with White Rose Maths and the Year 5 National Curriculum, the unit develops fluency with formal written methods, estimation and problem solving. Pupils learn to select appropriate strategies, use inverse operations to check answers and apply addition and subtraction skills in increasingly complex contexts.

What’s included

  • Weekly lesson packs covering all addition and subtraction small steps
  • Detailed Year 5 maths lesson plans linked to White Rose Maths
  • Interactive teaching slides with clear modelling and worked examples
  • Differentiated addition and subtraction worksheets for Year 5
  • Reasoning and problem-solving activities
  • Knowledge organiser, revision mats and assessment resources

What pupils learn across the block

  • Use efficient mental strategies for addition and subtraction
  • Add and subtract whole numbers with more than four digits
  • Use rounding to estimate and check answers
  • Apply inverse operations to verify calculations
  • Solve multi-step addition and subtraction problems
  • Compare calculations and determine missing values

Why this block matters

  • Builds confidence with larger numbers and formal written methods
  • Develops accuracy through estimation and checking strategies
  • Strengthens mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills
  • Provides essential foundations for later work in multiplication, division and fractions

If you are looking for Year 5 addition and subtraction worksheets, Year 5 calculation lesson plans, White Rose addition and subtraction resources or a complete Year 5 addition and subtraction unit, this block provides lesson packs, teaching slides, planning and differentiated resources to support high-quality maths teaching throughout the sequence.