Key Instant Recall Facts
Introduction of KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts)
Dear Parents/Carers,
KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts) have been designed to support the development of the mental skills that underpin much of the maths work in school. They are particularly useful when calculating, be it adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing. An important part of maths development has always been rote learning of certain numeracy facts. For many years this has included practising times tables. At St Meriadoc Infant Academy we have added more structure to this throughout school, as well as adding several other elements of instant recall maths.
Each half term, children are given Key Instant Recall Facts (KIRFs) to practise and learn at home as well as the work in school. These sheets include practical ideas for parents and carers to assist children in grasping the key facts. It is important that children know these thoroughly and can recall specific facts instantly.
Whilst children have a wide range of abilities in mathematics, the KIRFs are designed to be a set of facts that need to be learnt thoroughly as they build on each other year on year. Again, we stress that the children must aim to know their KIRF inside out, back to front and with instant recall.
We strongly encourage you to engage with your children in the learning of their KIRFs; fun, practical ideas are included on your sheet and should be undertaken regularly as part of their homework. We know that, by internalising these key facts which have been carefully structured to build upon each other term by term, year by year, children will leave St Meriadoc Infant Academy with a much stronger foundation of mathematical understanding to build upon.
Today, your child will be coming home with the ‘Autumn’ and ‘Spring’ KIRFs sheets. The sheets will also be available on the school website should you need an additional copy. We hope that you enjoy working alongside and supporting your children with this mathematics work. Should you have any questions about the KIRFs programme, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Dennis
Maths Lead