Maths

Mathematics

At Cledford Primary School, we believe, as with all learning, that maths is an exciting journey. We have an enriched approach that combines fluency, reasoning and problem solving through discovery, a sharing of thoughts and ideas, practice and reflection. Integrating Power Maths into our bespoke, spiral curriculum, we are building a culture of deep understanding, confidence, resilience and competency in maths – a culture that produces strong, secure learning and real progress. Everyone can achieve excellence!

Intent

We aim to provide a high-quality mathematics education with a mastery approach. We encourage pupils to see mathematics as an interconnecting subject, linking all areas of the curriculum together. Our maths lessons are rich in opportunities to reason and problem solve and support all children in:

gaining fluency in the fundamentals of mathematics
reasoning mathematically using appropriate mathematical vocabulary
becoming confident, competent and independent mathematicians
solving problems and apply their mathematical skills
making progress and achieve in line with their age

Implementation

Our EYFS focus on Development Matters, and maths is an integral part of their day to day learning and ensures our pupils work in small steps to secure understanding of concepts and skills. To ensure a deepening of understanding we have incorporated a bridging document so our children are Year 1 ready. This feeds in to Power Maths by using images and vocabulary the children will be familiar with.

Power Maths incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014. Pupils in Year 1 to 6 continue on this journey of a mastery approach by following Power Maths. Power Maths supports and challenges all pupils and is built on the belief that EVERYONE can.

We recognise the value of making a coherent journey through the national curriculum and each year group follow a medium-term plan where small, cumulative steps build a solid foundation of deep mathematical understanding. Formative assessment is threaded throughout each lesson and unit of work; and appropriate revisions to planning are made by the class teacher to ensure all lessons are tailored to best meet the needs of their children.

When introduced to a new concept, pupils have opportunities to build competency by being encouraged to physically and visually represent their mathematics. Objects and pictures are used to demonstrate and visualise abstract ideas, alongside numbers and symbols.

Concrete – children have the opportunity to use concrete objects and manipulatives to help them understand and explain what they are doing.
Pictorial – children then build on this concrete approach by using pictorial representations, which can then be used to reason and solve problems.
Abstract – with the foundations firmly laid, children can move to an abstract approach using numbers and key concepts with confidence.

During our Maths lessons you will see:

Collaboration and opportunity for partner talk
Consistency in routines and the delivery of Maths.
Opportunities for children to work independently, applying their learning.
Vocabulary and correct mathematical terminology used in all year groups.
Working walls may be used to model and scaffold learning.
Concrete manipulatives are accessible to children to select to support their Mathematical Understanding.

Daily Dashboard
All pupils also have Daily Dashboard sessions every morning. These sessions secure learning and provide opportunities for practice and application of new skills.

Times Tables Rock Stars
We know that confidence and fluency in times tables opens up all areas of mathematics so we make use of a fun and challenging online programme called Times Tables Rock Stars. You can find out more about TTRS in the files below.

Impact

Our maths curriculum design ensures that the needs of all learners are met with high quality first wave teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate. Every academic year we begin with number and place value units – children revisit and consolidate the relevant material required to access the age appropriate learning. Children will deepen their mathematical understanding, year on year while also applying their reasoning skills to understand the prevalence of Maths in ‘real-life’. Children will become independent mathematicians and develop a confidence to use both concrete and pictorial scaffolds to support them in their learning.

The maths curriculum design ensures that the needs of all learners in this particular community are met with high quality first wave teaching, supported by targeted, proven interventions where appropriate.
Enjoyment of the maths curriculum promotes achievement, confidence, fluency and basic skills.
Resilience and recognition that mistakes lead to learning.
Readiness for the next phase of learning and an ability to apply their learning to a wide range of problems in real life.
Application of learned skills in a range of contexts including reasoning.

Websites:

TimesTablesRockstars - https://ttrockstars.com/

Timestables.co.uk - excellent games to help you learn all times tables from 1 to 12.

Sums.co.uk - brilliant for practising calculation methods and includes step by step guidance for successful completion!

BBC Bitesize- A range of fun and interaction activities from Early Years to Key Stage 2.

ICT Games - A selection of fun games more suited to Early Years and Key Stage 1

Topmarks - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting

Please see below some useful links to support with the maths curriculum: