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NurseryAges 3-4Maths

Free Subtraction Worksheets for Nursery

Practice subtracting numbers. Download free printable maths worksheets designed for Nursery students (ages 3-4), aligned to the UK National Curriculum.

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What Your Child Will Learn

Count back from any number
Subtract a single digit from a number to 20
Find the difference between two amounts
Solve simple subtraction word problems

Sample Subtraction Questions for Nursery

Here are examples of the types of questions your child will practice:

1

8 - 3 = ?

easyfill blank
2

10 - 6 = ?

easyfill blank
3

Emma has 7 sweets. She eats 2. How many sweets does she have left?

mediumshort answer
4

15 - ? = 9

mediumfill blank
5

What is the difference between 12 and 5?

hardfill blank
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Skills Your Child Will Build

Mental calculation
Number sense
Inverse operations
Problem solving

Real-World Applications

Understanding subtraction helps children in everyday situations:

Working out change
Comparing prices
Time differences
Distance remaining

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Help your child avoid these common subtraction mistakes:

  • !Forgetting to borrow
  • !Subtracting smaller from larger digit
  • !Place value errors
  • !Sign confusion

Learning Progression

After mastering these foundations, students will progress to more complex subtraction skills in Key Stage 2, building on the concepts learned here.

Sample Subtraction Worksheets

1 available

Subtraction Worksheet - Nursery - Intermediate

intermediate
150

Subtraction Worksheet Preview

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Subtraction Worksheet - Nursery - Intermediate

Nursery · intermediate difficulty

Preview

Activity 1: Subtraction with Animals

Count the animals in each group and then subtract the number of animals that have left. Write the number of animals left in the box.

- = ______
- = ______
- = ______

Activity 2: Subtraction with Fruits

Look at the fruits below. Subtract the number of fruits eaten and write how many are left in the box.

- = ______
- = ______
- = ______
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Tips for Teaching Subtraction

1Teach the link between addition and subtraction early
2Use counters or physical objects to make it concrete
3Practise counting back on a number line
4Encourage estimation before calculating

More Maths Topics for Nursery

AdditionMultiplicationDivisionFractionsDecimalsPercentages

Subtraction for Other Age Groups

Early Years

Ages 0-2

Reception

Ages 4-5

Key Stage 1

Ages 5-7

Key Stage 2

Ages 7-11

Key Stage 3

Ages 11-14

GCSE

Ages 14-16

A-Level

Ages 16-18

Frequently Asked Questions

What subtraction topics are covered in these worksheets?▼
Our subtraction worksheets for Nursery cover all aspects of practice subtracting numbers as required by the UK National Curriculum. Each worksheet is designed to build skills progressively from foundation to challenge level.
Are these subtraction worksheets suitable for Nursery?▼
Yes, these worksheets are specifically designed for Nursery students (ages 3-4). The content difficulty and question types are carefully matched to National Curriculum expectations for this age group.
How can I use these subtraction worksheets effectively?▼
We recommend 15-20 minutes of focused practice per session. Use the worksheets to reinforce concepts taught at school, identify areas needing more practice, and build confidence. Every worksheet includes an answer key for easy self-assessment.
Do the subtraction worksheets include answer keys?▼
Yes, every worksheet comes with a complete answer key on a separate page. This makes it easy for parents to check homework, teachers to mark work, and students to self-assess their understanding.

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