Mathematics

Mathematics plays a key role in a child’s development.

Through the development of mathematical understanding, children begin to understand the world around them, interpret situations and solve problems. Research has proven that early mathematical understanding is strongly associated with later school achievement – having a considerable impact on progress and outcomes both educationally and in life. We value the importance of this and use research-informed practices for the greatest impact on outcomes. For this reason, we adopt the NCETM and Maths Hub ‘Five Big Ideas’ fundamental characteristics for the teaching for mastery in mathematics.

In our academy, we have a clear understanding of the National Curriculum content coverage that we teach following the White Rose Maths long- and medium-term planning overviews. We use the 3.0 version of the White Rose Maths planning overviews due to: the mastery approach; further research and consideration into the most appropriate learning progression; and the scaffolded, practical approach to teaching. The taught sessions are tailored further to meet children’s needs as we explicitly teach the skill first, before then teaching problem solving and reasoning using the taught skill.

In addition to the mastery mathematics lessons, sessions are taught to secure the understanding of number and arithmetic through oracy and arithmetic sessions. We believe that these approaches support children to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics and be ready for their next stage of learning.

We value the importance of securing early number sense in Early Years and KS1 so children are taught sessions following the NCETM Mastering Number. From their very first day, children are engaged in fun learning activities to develop the building blocks of early maths. As children move in to Reception, they continue to have a timetabled daily NCETM Mastering Number lesson where they secure their understanding of number alongside the White Rose Maths sessions. Early number is taught throughout Early Years and Key Stage One so that children are ready to progress to Key Stage Two. Children regularly practise what they have been taught throughout the day in planned learning activities and in their play, which helps to consolidate and expand on mathematical learning.

As in all our curriculum areas, we have ‘Big Ideas’ that are ‘golden threads’ through the mathematics curriculum. These threads help children to focus on a key area of learning as well as building on previous learning through schema-building.

The ‘Big Ideas’ for mathematics are:

number sense
calculate
reasoning
problem solving

Entitlement

As part of their ‘Entitlement’, our children are all exposed to high-quality modelling. The carefully sequenced lessons help children to build on learning in small steps. Through the scaffolding approaches used in everyday teaching, children are supported towards independent learning which is crucial to securing learning. They are also exposed to additional, discrete teaching of early number in Reception and Key Stage 1.

Enrichment

As part of our ‘Enrichment’ offer in the mathematics curriculum, children are all taught mathematical skills through the concrete, pictorial then abstract approach. This helps to scaffold children towards the more abstract forms of mathematics in a practical way. We also have many mathematical celebrations and competitions and both trust and academy level which helps all children to achieve and be celebrated. There are also a number of maths-related clubs available for children outside of the school day over the academic year.

Element

All pupils are encouraged to find their ‘Element’: something that they are passionate about. Links are often made across the careers field with children understanding the importance that mathematics has on all careers. Mathematics is also regularly talked about in ‘real-life’ situations that the children can relate to.

Curriculum Progression

Below are the key documents related to our mathematics curriculum.

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Supporting Mathematics at Home

We know that parents/carers enjoy supporting their children at home, and we also know that parents want to see their children doing well.

To help children secure maths skills at home, we subscribe to a learning resource platform called ‘Emile’. If possible, we recommend that children use the app version instead of the web browser version as this is easier to navigate. Here is a link to their website: Emile.

Each child has their own login to the platform where they will be able to practise and learn multiplication tables, number facts and other areas of maths. The academy accesses information on children’s progress through the platform so they can support children further in school to continue to achieve the greatest outcomes.

Parents/carers can also support their children with securing their understanding of arithmetic (+-x÷). Appendix D is our progression for teaching each of the four operations showing what children should be able to do orally and in written form by the end of their academic year.

Appendix D

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Here is a link to short videos – matched to Appendix D – showing how children are taught skills linked to each of the four operations. Click on the video title to open.

Parent Videos for Supporting Arithmetic

	Addition	Subtraction	Multiplication	Division
Reception	1-digit + 1-digit	1-digit – 1-digit
Year 1	2-digit + 1-digit	2-digit – 1-digit	1-digit x 1-digit (repeated addition)	2-digit ÷ 1-digit (grouping)
Year 2	2-digit + 1-digit	2-digit – 1-digit	1-digit x 1-digit	2-digit ÷ 1-digit
	2-digit + tens	2-digit – tens
	2-digit + 2-digit	2-digit – 2-digit
	2-digit + 2-digit (exchanging)	2-digit – 2-digit (exchanging)
Year 3	3-digit + 2-digit (expanded)	3-digit – 2-digit (expanded)	2-digit x 1-digit	2-digit ÷ 1-digit
	3-digit + 2-digit	3-digit – 2-digit	2-digit x 1-digit (exchanging)	2-digit ÷ 1-digit (exchanging)
	3-digit + 2-digit (exchanging)	3-digit – 2-digit (exchanging)		2-digit ÷ 1-digit (remainders)
	3-digit + 3-digit	3-digit – 3-digit
	3-digit + 3-digit (exchanging)	3-digit – 3-digit (exchanging)
Year 4	4-digit + 4-digit	4-digit – 4-digit	2-digit x 1-digit	3-digit ÷ 1-digit
	4-digit + 4-digit (exchanging)	4-digit – 4-digit (exchanging)	2-digit x 1-digit (exchanging)	3-digit ÷ 1-digit (exchanging)
		4-digit – 4-digit (exchanging involving zeroes)		3-digit ÷ 1-digit (exchanging with remainders)
Year 5	5-digit + 5-digit	5-digit – 5-digit	4-digit x 1-digit (short)	4-digit ÷ 1-digit (short)
	5-digit + 5-digit (exchanging)	5-digit – 5-digit (exchanging)	4-digit x 1-digit (short, expanded)	4-digit ÷ 1-digit (short with remainders)
			4-digit x 1-digit (short, exchanging)	4-digit ÷ 1-digit (short, exchanging)
			4-digit x 2-digit (long, area model)
	Addition (with decimals)	Subtraction (with decimals)	4-digit x 2-digit (long)
Year 6	6-digit + 6-digit	6-digit – 6-digit	4-digit x 2-digit	4-digit ÷ 1-digit (short)
	6-digit + 6-digit (exchanging)	6-digit – 6-digit (exchanging)	Multiplication (with decimals)	Division (with decimals)
	Addition (with decimals)	6-digit – 6-digit (exchanging involving zeroes)		4-digit ÷ 2-digit (long)
				3-digit ÷ 2-digit (long with remainder)

Year 4 – Multiplication Tables Check

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a statutory online assessment that children in Year 4 take in June to determine whether they can recall their multiplication tables fluently, which is essential for their future success in mathematics.
More information on the check, including answers to frequently asked questions, can be found in our MTC booklet below.

MTC information for parents

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