Mental maths classes for children aged 4–14
Mental maths is the skill of calculating without paper or a calculator. On the INDIGO programme children build it in a defined order — starting on a physical abacus, and gradually moving the abacus into their head.
What mental maths means on the INDIGO programme
Children begin with a physical abacus, learning bead values and the rules for adding and subtracting on it. This stage is concrete: the maths is something they can see and move with their hands.
As the rules become automatic, they start picturing the abacus instead of touching it. This is the stage the programme calls Anzan — working the beads mentally rather than physically.
The tool is the abacus; the outcome is mental arithmetic. That progression is the whole point of the six-level structure below.
The six-level pathway
The INDIGO mental maths programme spans approximately 26–36 months across six levels. Levels 1–5 form the core mental arithmetic programme; Level 6 is the advanced extension for students who continue. Children progress at their own pace, and that is completely normal.
| Level | Name | Focus | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Just Friends | Foundation and bead values | 3–4 months |
| 2 | Little Friends | Number bonds of 5 | 3–4 months |
| 3 | Big Friends | Number bonds of 10 | 5–8 months |
| 4 | Family | All rules combined | 3–4 months |
| 5 | Anzan | Mental arithmetic mastery | 1–2 months |
| 6 | Advanced | Multiplication, division, decimals | 9–12 months |
How progress is recognised
Each level ends with an INDIGO certificate, so progress is marked at six points across the programme rather than only at the end.
Students are also eligible to enter the international INDIGO competitions, and families receive monthly assessments showing where their child is within their current level.
Which level does a child start at?
Almost every child starts at Level 1, whatever their age. The first level teaches bead values and the physical mechanics of the abacus, which are new even to a child who is already strong at school maths.
Age changes the pace rather than the starting point. Our youngest students begin with simple bead exercises, while older beginners typically move through the early levels more quickly. We welcome children aged 4 to 14, and there is no upper limit — it is never too late to start.
The free trial doubles as a starting-point conversation: the instructor works with your child for 30 minutes and then tells you what to expect.
For how the classes themselves are run — timings, group sizes and what you need at home — see how our online abacus classes work.
Start at the right level
A free 30-minute trial is the quickest way to find out where your child would begin.
The trial is a 30-minute one-to-one session with a certified instructor. No card required.