ReceptionAges 4-5Maths

Free Subtraction Worksheets for Reception

Practice subtracting numbers. Download free printable maths worksheets designed for Reception students (ages 4-5), aligned to the UK National Curriculum.

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What Your Child Will Learn

Understand key concepts in subtraction
Apply subtraction skills to solve problems
Build confidence with subtraction through practice
Develop fluency appropriate for Reception

Sample Subtraction Questions for Reception

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

1

8 - 3 = ?

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2

10 - 6 = ?

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3

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

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4

15 - ? = 9

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5

What is the difference between 12 and 5?

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Generate a full worksheet with more questions

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.

Tips for Teaching Subtraction

1Teach subtraction as "finding the difference"
2Use visual models like bar diagrams
3Connect subtraction to addition as inverse operations
4Practice counting backwards as a foundation skill

More Maths Topics for Reception

AdditionMultiplicationDivisionFractionsDecimalsPercentages

Subtraction for Other Age Groups

Early Years

Ages 0-2

Nursery

Ages 3-4

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 Reception 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 Reception?▼
Yes, these worksheets are specifically designed for Reception students (ages 4-5). 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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