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Place value, ordering and rounding

The steps of the place value, ordering and rounding progression map contain objectives and examples of what pupils should know and be able to do. You can use this information to identify the appropriate stages of pupils’ learning and confirm that teaching is pitched at the right level.

Once you have selected the appropriate step and objectives, the probing questions will help you to gauge understanding and progress and, if necessary, you can use the suggested actions for when pupils encounter a barrier to learning.

  • Step 1

    • Read, write and order whole numbers to at least 1000; know what each digit represents

  • Step 2

    • Read and write the vocabulary of comparing and ordering numbers. Use symbols correctly, including less than (<), greater than (>), equals (=)
    • Round any positive integer less than 1000 to the nearest 10 or 100

  • Step 3

      Multiply and divide any positive integer up to 10000 by 10 or 100 and understand the effect
    • Round a number with one or two decimal places to the nearest integer

  • Step 4

    • Understand and use decimal notation and place value
    • Order a given set of positive and negative integers
    • Compare and order a mixed set of numbers or measurements with up to three decimal places

  • Step 5

    • Multiply and divide decimals mentally by 10 or 100, and integers by 1000, and explain the effect.
    • Round positive whole numbers to the nearest 10, 100 or 1000, and decimals to the nearest whole number or one decimal place.
    • Find the difference between a positive and a negative integer, or two negative integers, in a context such as temperature or the number line.

  • Step 6

    • Round positive numbers to any given power of 10; round decimals to the nearest whole number or to one or two decimal places
    • Multiply and divide integers and decimals by 0.1, 0.01

  • Step 7

    • Use rounding to make estimates; round numbers to the nearest whole number or to one or two decimal places

  • Step 8

    • Begin to write numbers in standard form
    • Round numbers to a given number of significant figures

  • Step 9

    • Understand upper and lower bounds

  • Step 10

    • Understand the effects of multiplying and dividing by numbers between 0 and 1