Maths
Our Intent
At St Mary's Primary School, we believe mathematics is essential to everyday life and a skill which we use all the time. A high quality mathematics education is vital for developing confident and resilient learners and provides a foundation for understanding the world. We intend to deliver a well-planned curriculum that allows each child to explore maths in a creative and engaging way. Children will make connections and develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills through high quality teaching and learning opportunities, in line with the expectations of the National Curriculum 2014.
At St Mary's, we recognise that a whole-school systematic approach to delivering quality maths is fundamental to our success. Through adopting a mastery curriculum, alongside the aims of the National Curriculum, children progressively build an understanding of key concepts. We are lucky to have a maths mastery specialist on staff (Mrs Rowe) and we work closely with the NCETM and our local maths hub to implement a clearly sequenced, stepped curriculum which allows each child to build on secure foundations, remember more and explore maths in a creative and engaging way. We ensure each year we build on the previous year’s learning and consider the individual journey of each child to ensure they are ready for their next steps.
Mastering maths means that children acquire a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. A whole class teaching approach is adopted; keeping the class working together, with no acceleration to next academic year's content. This is to avoid superficial, surface learning and foster a deep, secure understanding of all the concepts taught. We follow the National Curriculum and use NCETM materials as a guide to support teachers with their teaching, planning and assessment.
Our partnership with the Jurassic Maths Hub, coordinated by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), provides continuous professional development and the opportunity to develop our practice and pedagogy in order to benefit all learners.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
In Reception, our teaching and environment is set up to ensure that all children develop firm mathematical foundations in a way that is fun and engaging, encouraging problem-solving and investigation. Indoor and outdoor continuous provision provides the opportunity for children to learn through play and exploration. We use the Early Year Foundation Stage Framework and the six areas of early mathematical learning as a basis for our lessons and maths provision. They collectively provide a platform for everything children will encounter as they progress through their maths learning at St Mary's and beyond:
- Cardinality and counting
- Comparison
- Composition
- Pattern
- Shape and space
- Measures
In Reception, children have a discrete daily maths session using the NCETM Mastering Number program and then opportunities to explore mathematics through continuous and enhanced provision.
EYFS Mastering Number and Big Ideas Progressions
Years 1 to 6
Mastering Number
St Mary's took part in the National for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) project to support the teaching of basic maths skills in our school in 2021-2022 and are continuing the program for future years
These materials aim to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense (a deep understanding of number) for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2.
The aim over time is that children will leave KS1 and begin KS2 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. Research shows that children with secure ‘number sense’ early on will make more progress later on in Maths and across the curriculum.
Each class, in KS1, has a daily ‘Mastering Number’ session in addition to their Maths lesson. Over the year, the children will experience using a range of resources and representations, including a small abacus-like piece of equipment called a rekenrek.
Using an abacus-like rekenrek to help children develop confidence and fluency with number
In this short video, Debbie Morgan, the NCETM's Director for Primary, explains how the abacus-like rekenrek can be used to help children develop confidence and fluency with number. Use of a rekenrek is one element of the Mastering Number Programme, and participating schools will be provided with sets of the equipment free of charge.
Year 1
Year 2
Please see the documentation below for Years 1-6 progression maps.