Mathematics

Rationale

At Burbage Primary, we consider maths as an essential, life-long skill and strive for all of our children to reach their full potential. We are currently on an exciting journey to embed a mastery approach to teaching and learning maths across the school; this effectively means that we want our children to use their knowledge of concepts to solve unfamiliar word problems, and undertake complex reasoning, using the appropriate mathematical vocabulary. To help facilitate this, Burbage is currently part of the Turing Maths Hub where new developments, ideas and resources are shared at meetings throughout the school year. Furthermore, mastery lessons are demonstrated by specialist teachers and there is the opportunity for all school staff to develop their continued professional development through a range of mathematical courses.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In EYFS, there are six key areas of early mathematics learning, which collectively provide a platform for everything children will encounter as they progress through their maths learning at primary school and beyond. EYFS are the following: cardinality & counting, comparison, composition, pattern, shape & space and measure. It is essential to develop a strong grounding in number so that all children develop the necessary building blocks to excel mathematically. Children should be able to count confidently, develop a deep understanding of the numbers to 10, associated patterns & the relationships between them. By providing frequent and varied opportunities to build and apply this understanding — such as using manipulatives, including small pebbles and tens frames — children will develop a secure base of knowledge and vocabulary from which mathematics mastery is built.

National Curriculum year groups 1-6

In Years 1-6, we use the ‘Power Maths’ scheme to support the National Curriculum in the subject. This assists the children with concrete, pictorial and abstract methods of working out and focusses on a range of mastery problems in each topic. This scheme is built around a child-centred lesson design that models and embeds a growth mindset approach to maths and focusses on helping all children to build a deep understanding of maths concepts. We also supplement learning with resources from the White Rose and NCETM learning sites.

Planning & Sequencing

Teachers will base their long and medium-term planning from the Power Maths scheme but use their continued professional judgement to decide the length spent on each topic and how work/lessons may need to be adapted accordingly. The maths long-term planning is carefully organised so that it has a clear progression & sequence from year one onwards (see below); children have the opportunity to complement and build on their knowledge & skills tool-kit as they move through the school. For example, children will learn the concept of division in Year 1, where they will share a single digit number into smaller groups. They will subsequently build on this knowledge each year so that by the time they leave Year 6, they should be able to use a formal method of long division to share a four-digit number by a two-digit number. Furthermore, we ensure that topics are revisited on a constant basis by the use of ‘Mastering Number’ in Key Stage 1 and a ‘four a day’ revision scheme in Key Stage 2. We also have a plethora of mathematical resources & equipment available to support maths in school when required.

Enrichment

We consider enrichment in maths to be a priority and enable a variety of opportunities for children to continually challenge themselves. Each year, our school enters the Primary Maths Challenge, which enables the children to use their knowledge to answer a variety of tricky questions. Linked to this is the First Maths Challenge for slightly younger pupils to enter. A further challenge which only available to pupils at Burbage Primary is the ‘Newton’s Nemesis’ which has successfully run for several years now. Children in Key Stage 2 each receive a ‘Times Tables Rock Star’ account which enables them to work on their timed multiplication skills with rewards each time they hit a specific ‘time goal’.

Overall, we want our children and families to enjoy and feel positive about their mathematical journey and experiences at Burbage and continue to utilise these skills in their future learning.

Mathematics

Rationale

Maths Long Term Plan

Maths EYFS and Key Stage 1 Knowledge & Skills progression

Maths lower Key Stage 2 Knowledge & Skills progression

Maths upper Key Stage 2 Knowledge & Skills progression