Our Vision for Maths
At St Mary and St Peter, we want all children to be confident and creative mathematicians. We aim to equip all pupils with the skills and confidence to solve a range of problems through fluency with number and mathematical reasoning. Children are encouraged to see the mathematics that surrounds them every day through cross-curricular links and contextualised problems. All teaching follows a mastery approach enabling children to master a variety of mathematical concepts, build upon prior learning and develop a deep understanding. We are passionate about ensuring each of our children has a love of Maths, anrabling them to become better problem solvers, communicators and decision makers later in life.
Attached below is our Maths mission statement.
White Rose Maths
We structure our learning using the 'White Rose' scheme, which forms the basis of our long and medium term planning. We use this because it:
1. provides a coherent learning journey, covering all elements of the National Curriculum in achievable small steps of learning,
2. provides reference for pupils and teachers of what has been taught previously and what is on the horizon,
3. provides clarity and consistency of taught context across year groups,
4. ensures mathematical concepts are presented in a similar way across the school,
5. is aligned with high quality professional development,
6. provides resources which draw out the principles of teaching for mastery. This enables teachers to focus on teaching, rather than gathering resources.
Attached below is our yearly overview and progression map for Maths.
Mastering Number
In September 2022 we began our journey with the NCETM's Mastering Number program. With statements like “I’m rubbish at Maths” or “I’ll never be any good at Maths” getting increasingly more commonplace, some of our children were becoming more and more disenchanted with the subject as they weren't confident enough in their fluency skills and struggled to apply basic mathematics to more challenging problems.
This project aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim over time is that children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. Attention will be given to key knowledge and understanding needed in Reception classes, and progression through KS1 to support success in the future.
We have recently expanded the program out to Key Stage 2. Knowledge of multiplication and division and its applications forms the single most important aspect of the KS2 curriculum, and is the gateway to success at secondary school.
The National Curriculum
In the National Curriculum, there are three Aims central to everything within the Mathematics:
- Reasoning – following a line of enquiry, conjecturing ideas, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language;
- Fluency – being able to make connections and use what they know to find out what they don’t know, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding;
- Problem solving – applying their skills to a variety of problems, breaking them down into smaller steps in order to solve them.
Everything we do in Maths is designed to achieve these aims. Every Maths lesson should be a problem solving lesson!
Calculation
Our Calculation Policy is used to help children deepen their understanding of how number works. We strongly believe in teaching using the CPA approach (concrete, pictorial, abstract). Teachers use a variety of manipulatives to support this throughout a unit of learning.
Attached below is a copy of our school calculation policy.
SMSP Calculation Policy 2023-24
How you can further support your child at home
Weekly homework - From Year 1 upwards, children are given a weekly Maths homework task based on their learning in school that week.
Curriculum maps - Every year group will have a curriculum map on their class page where you can see what Maths topics are being taught that half term.
Times Tables Rock Stars - When it comes to times tables, speed AND accuracy are important – the more facts your child remembers, the easier it is for them to do harder calculations. Times Table Rock Stars is a fun and challenging program designed to help pupils master the times tables. To be a Times Table Rock Star you need to answer any multiplication fact up to 12×12 in less than 3 seconds! All Key Stage 2 children should have a login, if not please speak to your child's class teacher.
Topmarks Maths - Topmarks Maths is a free website full of Maths games for EYFS up to secondary school!
