Mathematics

Introduction

At Saint George’s Church of England Primary Phase, we aim to foster an enjoyment, fascination and confidence in Mathematics for all children, using the Mathematics Mastery approach. At the centre of this approach is the belief that all children have the potential to succeed. We ensure that each child deepens and develops their knowledge, skills and understanding in Mathematics to a high level. We will ensure that children can relate Mathematics to the ‘real world’ and use it to solve problems in their every-day lives.

The Mathematics Mastery approach has mathematical problem solving at its core. It has three key principles which we teach our children. These are:   

  • To use spoken and written language with confidence and clarity, in order to explain and justify Mathematical reasoning
  • To have a deep conceptual understanding of Mathematical concepts
  • To develop Mathematical thinking, including generalising, classifying and comparing and modifying

This is achieved through covering fewer topics in greater depth. Pupils master concepts rather than learning procedures by rote. They do this using concrete objects and pictures before moving on to abstract symbols (numbers and signs). We teach 6 part lessons which allow for cumulative, scaffolded learning where assessment is crucially feeding in to subsequent segments. Every lesson involves children explaining and talking about mathematics.

Aims

At Saint George’s Church of England Primary Phase we aim to foster a love of Mathematics and Mathematical understanding. To do this we need to:

  • Develop a growth mindset about Mathematics
  • Develop a positive attitude towards Mathematics
  • Encourage children to be confident about number and look for connections between numbers
  • Create problem solvers who can reason, think logically and apply their knowledge of Mathematics to other areas of learning
  • Develop mathematical language
  • Help children to become independent learners ad work cooperatively with others
  • Give a real-life context to Mathematics

 

Mathematics Mastery Approach

The teaching of Mathematics Mastery enables all children to work together on the same key point, whilst at the same time challenging and supporting pupils to gain a depth of understanding and proficiency.

Saint George’s Church of England Primary Phase will do this by:

  • Enabling children to work in mixed ability groups
  • Using precise questions to enable children to think deeply about Mathematical concepts
  • Encouraging children to make connections across Mathematical ideas
  • Challenging children to problem solve
  • Supporting children through; careful questioning, further use of representations, additional time, additional activities to consolidate understanding
  • Introducing new concepts by using a concrete, pictorial, abstract approach
  • Ensuring every Mathematics lesson shows progress and/or helps children deepen their understanding
  • Including Mathematics vocabulary in every lesson and using it in the correct way to develop children’s knowledge
  • Ensuring all classrooms have helpful and appropriate display materials, including Mathematical vocabulary

 

EYFS

Within the EYFS at Saint George’s Church of England Primary Phase, adults will support children in developing and expressing their understanding of problem solving, reasoning and numeracy in a broad range of contexts, through exploration and play. Adults will offer opportunities for these skills to be practiced, in order to give children the confidence to use these skills in other areas of learning, as well as during future Mathematical activities.

The Mathematics area of learning includes seeing patterns, making connections, recognising relationships, working with numbers, shapes, space and measures, counting, sorting and matching. Children use their knowledge and skills in these areas to solve problems, generate questions and make connections across other areas of the EYFS. Mathematical understanding will be developed through whole class sessions as well as stories, songs, games and imaginative play.

Mathematical learning will be both practical and highly engaging for our pupils, both within the EYFS and across the rest of our school.

 

 

Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2