Mathematics

The language of mathematics is international. The basic skills of mathematics are vital for the life opportunities of our children. Our aim is to support children to be confident, fluent and risk-taking mathematicians.

Teaching for Mastery

We follow a mastery approach to the teaching of the objectives laid out in the National Curriculum. Mastery teaching fits with the belief that all pupils can achieve and succeed in maths.

In a mastery teaching model, pupils will develop conceptual understanding, number fluency, and the ability to apply their understanding within reasoning and problem-solving contexts. In doing this, learning is broken into small steps and scaffolded to support cognition, with difficulty increasing as pupils move towards independence and deeper levels of understanding. Our mathematics curriculum is planned and sequenced using the small step progression unit sequence from the Oak National Academy. 

Our teaching for mastery is underpinned by the NCETM’s Five Big Ideas:

• Opportunities for Mathematical Thinking allow children to make chains of reasoning connected with other areas of mathematics.
• A focus on Representation and Structure ensures concepts are explored using concrete, pictorial and abstract representations, the children actively look for patterns and generalise whilst problem solving.
• Coherence is achieved through the planning of small, connected steps to link every question and lesson within a topic.
• Teachers use both procedural and conceptual Variation within their lessons and there remains an emphasis on Fluency with a relentless focus on number and times table facts.

Early Maths

In Nursery, we use Master the Curriculum and the six key areas of early mathematics learning from the NCETM to provide a platform for everything children will encounter as they progress through their maths learning at primary school, and beyond.

In Reception, children access their early maths curriculum through the NCETM Mastering Number programme, which aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense, patterns in number, confidence and flexibility. 

Maths in KS1 & KS2

In Key Stages One and Two, children are following the Oak National Academy curriculum for KS1 and KS2 in sequence.

Scaffolding and directed support are used to ensure children are mastering the small steps of progression at roughly the same rate. We ensure challenge for all children by giving everyone the opportunity to develop fluency and reasoning skills at an appropriate level across a range of contexts, including through targeted questioning.

Mastering Number

We use the Mastering Number materials in school to secure firm foundations and develop good number sense for all children across school. In KS1 and Year 3, children participate in lessons, which are taught outside of the main maths lesson for 10 to 15 minutes, on four days each week. In these short sessions, children are encouraged to notice, explore and explain patterns and connections they see when exploring mathematical concepts.

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