The Hill Primary School

Maths

 

Intent

Mathematics is an important and creative discipline that helps us to understand and change the world. At The Hill Primary School, we want all pupils to experience the beauty, power and enjoyment of mathematics and develop a sense of curiosity about the subject. We believe ALL children can achieve in maths. By using a mastery approach to teaching maths, we aim to instil a deep and secure understanding of mathematical concepts and provide challenge through rich problems before acceleration through new content. New mathematical concepts are introduced using a ‘Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract’ approach; enabling all children to experience hands-on learning when discovering new mathematical topics, allowing them to have clear models and images to aid their understanding. Mathematical concepts are embedded and children can recall this information to see the links between topics in Maths. We intend for all children to be able to explain their thinking using correct mathematical vocabulary and apply their knowledge to other subjects across the curriculum, for example, science and geography.

 

Implementation

  • To ensure full topic coverage, the school uses ‘White Rose’ as a basis for our Mathematical teaching. This is a whole-school primary maths scheme, which aligns with the National Curriculum, and creates continuity and progression in the teaching of mathematics, breaking concepts down into small steps.
  • The White Rose is supplemented with other high quality resources, such as NCETM, NRich and I See Reasoning.
  • Daily maths lessons include fluency, reasoning and problem solving.
  • Learners are supported and challenged in lessons through questioning, resources and being challenged to think creatively about a problem.
  • Concrete manipulatives and pictorial representations are used to support conceptual understanding and to make links across topics.
  • Feedback is given on children’s learning in line with our marking policy. Formative assessment within every lesson helps teachers to identify the children who need more support to achieve the intended outcome and who are ready to greater stretch and challenge through planned questioning or additional activities.
  • Early Years to Year 2 complete the additional NCETM Mastering Number sessions which aims to secure firm foundations in development of good number sense. The aim over time is that children will leave Key Stage 1 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number.
  • All children in Year 2 to 6 have a Times Table Rockstar Login which is used inside and encouraged to be used outside school.
  • Children complete end of unit assessments for each Block to assess their learning. Analysis of any tests that the children complete is undertaken and fed into future planning.
  • Children are assessed on a termly basis using the End of Term White Rose Assessments. This aids the teacher’s judgements of the children, influencing their Target Tracker data.
  • Once a week, children are given My Maths homework in Years 1-6.

 

Mastering Number Project

In EYFS and KS1, the children will have a Mastering number session four times a week. The program has been developed by the NCETM and the aims of the program are:

  • Pupils to clearly communicate their mathematical ideas.
  • Pupils to develop a secure understanding of number facts for a firm foundation in the subject.
  • Pupils and teachers to develop an understanding of appropriate manipulatives to use.

 

Impact

As a result of our Maths teaching at The Hill Primary School you will see:

  • Engaged children who are all supported and challenged.
  • Confident children who can talk about Maths and their learning, as well as the links between Mathematical topics, with the flexibility and fluidity to move between different contexts and representations of mathematics.
  • Children who can apply their mathematical understanding to a range of situations successfully.
  • Children who demonstrate quick recall of facts and procedures, including the recollection of the times tables.
  • Lessons that use a variety of resources to support learning.
  • Different representations of mathematical concepts.
  • Learning that is tracked and monitored to ensure all children make good or better progress.
  • Children who show a high level of pride in the presentation and understanding of the work.

Maths Policy

Maths overview

Maths progression

 

  For more information about our curriculum please contact the office on admin@hill.reading.sch.uk