Nearly three in five parents found maths the hardest subject to help their children with during lockdown, a survey suggests.

The same proportion (59 per cent) said that homeschooling highlighted their own lack of confidence in maths and anything involving numbers, according to the poll commissioned by charity National Numeracy.

But the survey, of more than 600 parents, suggests that 65 per cent believe their own maths skills have improved as a result of homeschooling.

Study: Covid ‘puts pupils an extra month behind in maths’

Learning loss: Five key findings from new report

Viewpoint: ‘I’m hopeless at homeschooling - is that so wrong?’

There is much more work to do to support adults who struggle with everyday maths, the charity says.

Lockdown: Parents struggled with maths during homeschooling

Overall, 39 per cent said having to do maths makes them feel anxious, according to the survey of 2,000 British adults.

Nearly one in three adults (31 per cent) said they struggle with everyday maths - and 29 per cent avoid situations involving numbers, the report suggests.

Helping children with their homework or homeschooling is one of the ways that people say they are struggling with everyday maths, the charity found.

Of the parents surveyed, 59 per cent said maths was the most difficult lesson to teach during lockdown.

National Numeracy chief executive Sam Sims said: “Number confidence and skills are needed in every aspect of life - at work, home and supporting children at school.

“This research shows there is a huge amount of anxiety about numeracy and much more work to do to support the one in three British adults who say they struggle with everyday maths.

“Everyone deserves to feel confident with numbers and this National Numeracy Day [today, 19 May 2021], we are going all out to show how, with the right support, everyone can improve their everyday maths.”

One Poll questioned 2,000 UK adults - including 632 parents of schoolchildren - between 4 May and 6 May.