The activities in this book are designed both to help children to learn and to understand math concepts, and also to prepare them for taking SATS papers at KS2. There is plenty of research evidence to suggest that children are helped in their understanding of math problems if teachers focus on common misconceptions, and if children are given opportunities for discussion and explanation of their own understanding. Children can also feel stigmatized by being made to focus on their own errors.

Mike Spooner has developed activities that present already completed work which children then assess, correct and discuss - in this way they can analyze mistakes without damage to their own self-esteem. The activities are presented in the same format as the SATS papers, to give children practice in coping with that format. The book also contains writing frames that children can use to structure their discussions of math problems.