How Gaps in Maths Grow Quietly — And What You Can Do
Gaps Grow Quietly
In any given primary school classroom, there’s a wide range of ability-but most parents don’t realise just how wide. The difference between the most advanced and most behind students can span up to seven years. That’s not a typo. Seven years. And the scary part? These gaps don’t scream. They whisper. And they widen silently over time when the early signs are missed or dismissed.
“In the typical class, there is a five to seven year gap in achievement.”(Grattan Institute, 2023)
The truth is, gaps in maths learning rarely appear overnight. They build up slowly - from tiny misunderstandings, skipped steps, or rushed content. A child who never truly understood regrouping in subtraction may start falling behind in multiplication. One missed concept in fractions can make decimals and percentages feel impossible. And what begins as quiet confusion eventually grows into fear, avoidance, or a fixed belief of “I’m just not good at maths.”
But it doesn’t have to go that way. At My5 Minute Maths Tutor, we built our program to catch and correct these moments before they spiral. Every 30-minute lesson includes five focused mini-lessons, each targeting a different core maths skill. Right after each one, there’s a custom worksheet designed to embed learning immediately - before the child moves on, before the memory fades, and before the confidence slips. It's not about overwhelming them with repetition. It's about consistent, scaffolded exposure - exactly when it matters most.
The power of our system is in its structure. My5's Phased Learning Cycle revisits all 20 key maths areas every two weeks, giving children regular chances to relearn, relearn and extend without pressure. This rhythm helps them build a rock-solid foundation, not just in understanding, but in self-belief. Because when a child realises they can learn, and that it’s safe to make mistakes and try again, that belief shifts everything.
If your child is still in primary school, the best time to take action is now - not later, not when they're drowning, and not when report cards start flagging major concerns. Book a free 30-minute call at the My5 Minute Maths Tutor website. Let’s talk about where your child is right now, what’s been missed, and how we can help close the gap before it grows. They don’t need rescuing later - they need rhythm and support now.
