MathsAtHome vs DysCalculator

The ‘Maths@Home’ app gives adults ideas of various activities that will support children’s mathematical development using resources easily available in and around the home. The app was co-designed by researchers at University College London with parents and practitioners. The app is based on the latest evidence on children’s mathematical development and personalised learning. The activities are informed by the English national curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage framework and has various levels of difficulty for children aged 2 to 6 years old. The activities are linked to a blog where you find out more about mathematical development for young children and how the games support their development. 5 features parents liked about the ‘Maths@Home’ app: 1. Ready-to-play activities 2. It fits well into spontaneous playing 3. It prompts parent-child interactions 4. Off-screen time for their children 5. It helps empower parents to support their child’s mathematical abilities “It encourages you to be interactive with your child”. “I certainly found that there were things that I would never have thought to have done that were really simple but actually he really enjoyed it”. “I read what I needed to do and I then I kind of put the phone away, and I sat with my child and did the game and I felt encouraged…”

DysCalculator is designed for people with dyscalculia and related learning differences. It reflects how these individuals perceive and work with numbers, using language, visual, and spatial cues to build number sense, confidence, and understanding. Developed from years of research into maths accessibility, DysCalculator simplifies numerical tasks by adapting to how users interact with numbers and technology. Key features: • Numbers arranged by magnitude (0 to 9) • Operators ordered by precedence (PEMDAS/BODMAS) • Natural-order input (e.g. 2 + 3 = for addition) • Visual step-by-step workings to explain calculation logic • Solve for unknowns (e.g. 3 + ? = 5) • Solve time calculations (e.g. elapsed time, differences) • Pictograms for time, fractions, and percentages • Tax and percentage calculators with preset values Customisable: • Personal greetings • Alternate key labels (e.g. “plus” or “and” for +) • OpenDyslexic font for dyslexic users • Irlen-style shading to improve legibility • Multiple languages, including te reo Māori and German • Read keys aloud • Different keyboard layouts and fixed decimal formats DysCalculator doesn’t just give answers – it helps everyone understand how maths works. Whether you're using it independently, in a classroom, or as a support tool, it’s built to make maths more accessible, intuitive, and less intimidating.