Maths apps for KS2: how to choose for your child

The most useful maths app for your KS2 child is one that helps with the next thing they need to understand. Start with a school topic, look at how the app explains it, then see what your child can try without help. A long feature list cannot answer those questions for you.

KS2 covers Years 3 to 6 in England. A Year 3 child meeting fractions of a set and a Year 6 child working with fraction calculations need different starting points. You do not need to compare every app: use the trial sheet below to investigate one or two realistic options.

This guide is published by KeyStage. Product descriptions were checked on 20 October 2026 against official information; the options below are examples to investigate, not a hands-on comparison.

Start with the maths your child needs now

Ask your child or their teacher for a specific goal. “Get better at fractions” is broad. “Find three quarters of a small quantity and explain the equal groups” gives you something to look for.

England's maths programme places fractions of sets with small denominators in Year 3, adding fractions with related denominators in Year 5, and multiplying simple pairs of proper fractions in Year 6. Schools have flexibility over when content is introduced within a key stage. Check the school's sequence rather than treating an app's year label as a verdict on your child. These placements come from the statutory maths programmes of study.

Also decide what kind of help is missing. A child who understands a method but needs practice has a different need from one who cannot see why the method works. Tell the app, or the adult supporting the session, which of those you are trying to address.

Use this checklist before choosing

Scroll across to read the full table.

Try looking at three kinds of question. For place value, ask what the 4 represents in 3,462: it represents 400. For fractions, ask why three quarters of 12 is 9. For problem solving, ask which calculation would find the change from £5 after buying three items at £1.20 each: £5 − 3 × £1.20 gives £1.40.

Use only examples that suit what your child is learning. You are checking whether the support makes sense, not setting an entrance test.

A few options to investigate

DoodleMaths describes personalised maths practice, visual questions and a parent hub, including KS2 content. It is an option to investigate if a practice routine is your priority. IXL UK lists maths skills by year, so you can start by checking a particular skill. EdPlace provides automatically marked curriculum activities in maths, English and science.

If your KS2 child needs help understanding a maths idea before practising it, we recommend trying KeyStage App. Its AI teacher uses worked examples and visuals, guides practice and recaps the lesson. Children can speak or type, and you can read lesson transcripts and follow curriculum objectives. Use the trial sheet below with a topic from school to see how the format suits your child. AI explanations and marking can be wrong, so check anything that seems confusing.

Those descriptions help build a shortlist; they do not establish which service will teach your child best. If two practice tools are already on your list, the DoodleMaths and IXL comparison gives you more questions to use.

Copy or print this trial sheet

This example suits a child working on lower KS2 fractions of quantities. Change the goal with school advice if it is not the right starting point.

App and date: ____________________

Our goal: Find three quarters of a quantity by making four equal groups and taking three of them.

Before opening the app: Put out 12 counters, coins or drawn dots. Ask, “What does one quarter of these mean?” Record the child's words, including any help you gave: ____________________

Worked example to discuss: To find three quarters of 12, share 12 counters into four equal groups. Each group has 3 counters, so one quarter is 3. Three of those groups contain 3 + 3 + 3 = 9. Therefore three quarters of 12 is 9.

During the app session: Choose the same objective. Note one explanation or picture your child used: ____________________

If a mistake happens: What did the app do next? Did your child understand that response? ____________________

Independent attempt after the session: “Find three quarters of 20. Show or tell me how.” Allow paper or counters, but pause before giving a hint. Answer: 15, because 20 ÷ 4 = 5 and 3 × 5 = 15. Record the help needed: ____________________

A later check: On another day, ask, “There are 16 seats; three quarters are occupied. How many seats are occupied?” Answer: 12. Record the explanation, rather than just a tick: ____________________

Look closely at the response to a mistake

Suppose your child says three quarters of 12 is 4. An answer screen alone will not tell you whether they divided by three, counted the groups or guessed. Useful support should make their thinking clearer and help them revisit the meaning of quarters.

One short session cannot demonstrate lasting progress. It can tell you whether your child could ask a question, follow the response and try a relevant next step. The parent observation guide helps you review that over time.

If the trial becomes upsetting, stop and return to an easier example or ask school where to begin. Our guide to responding to “I'm bad at maths” includes words you can use in that moment. Choose support that gives your child room to think and a realistic chance to experience “I can do this.”