Parents scared by children's maths homework

A fifth of parents with children aged 6-16 avoid their child's maths homework as working with numbers scares them, a survey has found.

When they do give maths homework a go, 52 per cent of parents admit they get it wrong, while 17 per cent tell their children to ask their maths teacher for more help and do not get involved.

Nearly a third (29 per cent) of parents say they struggle with maths homework aimed at children aged 6-9, while 28 per cent say they can no longer help out with maths when their child goes to secondary school.

Many parents surveyed said they would not be able to pass on basic money skills to their child.

Adding and subtracting without a calculator is a skill one-in-four parents say they would not be able to pass on.

This is also the case when it comes to teaching children how to split a bill with friends in a restaurant (40 per cent) or working out the best value items in the supermarket (45 per cent).

More than half (52 per cent) could not show their children how to find the best value gas and electricity services, while 62 per cent would not know how to find the best mortgage.

Some 71 per cent would not know how to find the most affordable loan in terms of interest charges and 66 per cent could not help their child find the best credit card.