We are MATHEMATICIANS!
The study of mathematics provides children with many skills which are transferable across the curriculum and the world around them. Our maths curriculum supports children to gain a deep long term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject which enables them to become agile mathematicians. We aim to encourage children to gain fluency in number and be able to reason and problem solve using a variety of strategies.
Maths enables children to become confident in sharing their mathematical thinking through oral and written work. Our children are introduced to a wide range of mathematical vocabulary which enables them to articulate their understanding in a concise and logical manner. Throughout our mathematics curriculum, children are encouraged to develop their mathematical thinking leading them to be able to build upon and challenge the ideas of others. Our curriculum aims to equip children with the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to be successful in the next stage of their learning. We believe that all children are capable of achieving high standards in mathematics.
How is Mathematics taught?
Maths is taught in separate year groups and the content covers the National Curriculum for each specific year group. It is taught using a ‘mastery’ approach and to support this approach, we have a daily ‘Power Maths’ (White Rose Edition) lessons.
What is Power Maths?
Power Maths is a curriculum mastery programme that has been designed for UK schools based on research and extensive experience of teaching and learning around the world and here in the UK. Power Maths was created in partnership with White Rose Maths to spark curiosity and excitement and help nurture confidence in maths. It has been designed to support and challenge all pupils, and is built on the belief that EVERYONE can learn maths successfully.
Power Maths follows cutting-edge maths mastery guidance from the DfE and NCETM and is a recommended for meeting the core criteria for high-quality textbooks, and has been judged as “fully delivering a mastery approach”.
This 10 minute video explains how Power Maths works and how the resources are designed to support teaching for mastery.
How does this support our approach to teaching?
The philosophy behind Power Maths is that being successful in maths is not just about rote-learning procedures and methods, but is instead about problem solving, thinking and discussing. Many people feel they were taught maths in a way that was about memorising formulas and calculation methods, then having to apply them without any real understanding of what or how these methods actually work. Power Maths includes practice questions to help children develop fluent recall and develop their conceptual understanding.
Children are taught and encouraged to use manipulatives to support their mathematical understanding and to demonstrate this understanding using concrete, pictorial and abstract methods to show their reasoning and to solve problem-solving activities.
Arithmetic and times tables are also taught.
How will the lessons work?
Each lesson has a progression, with a central flow that draws the main learning into focus. There are different elements, informed by research into best practice in maths teaching, that bring the lessons to life:
Discover – each lesson begins with a problem to solve, often a real-life example, sometimes a puzzle or a game. These are engaging and fun, and designed to get all children thinking.
Share – the class shares their ideas and compares different ways to solve the problem, explaining their reasoning with hands-on resources and drawings to make their ideas clear. Children are able to develop their understanding of the concept with input from the teacher.
Think together – the next part of the lesson is a journey through the concept, digging deeper and deeper so that each child builds on secure foundations while being challenged to apply their understanding in different ways and with increasing independence.
Practice – now children practice individually or in small groups, rehearsing and developing their skills to build fluency, understanding of the concept and confidence.
Reflect – finally, children are prompted to reflect on and record their learning from each session and show how they have grasped the concept explored in the lesson.
Further Maths resources
‘School Jam’ is an app used in EYFS and Ks1 to support and consolidate maths learning at home. Click here for more details.
‘Maths Flex’ is an online homework resource used in KS2 to support and consolidate work in maths. Click here for more details.
