New Maths Curriculum (2014): Year 3 objectives.
Pupils should continue to practise their mental recall of multiplication tables when they are calculating mathematical statements in order to improve fluency. Through doubling, they connect the 2, 4 and 8 multiplication tables.
Pupils should develop efficient mental methods, for example, using commutativity (e.g. 4 × 12 × 5 = 4 × 5 × 12 = 20 × 12 = 240) and multiplication and division facts (e.g. using 3 × 2 = 6, 6 ÷ 3 = 2 and 2 = 6 ÷ 3) to derive related facts (30 × 2 = 60, 60 ÷ 3 = 20 and 20 = 60 ÷ 3).
Pupils should develop reliable written methods for multiplication
and division, starting with calculations of two-digit numbers by one- digit numbers and progressing to the efficient written methods of short multiplication and division.
Pupils should solve simple problems in contexts, deciding which of the four operations to use and why, including measuring and scaling contexts, and correspondence problems in which m objects are connected to n objects (e.g. 3 hats and 4 coats, how many different outfits; 12 sweets shared equally between 4 children; 4 cakes shared equally between 8 children).