Mathematics
The National Curriculum for Mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
- Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.
- Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.
At Leverington, we aim for all pupils to develop a love of mathematics throughout the curriculum, and understand its crucial role in our day-to-day lives. We encourage children to make and learn from mistakes in their work to build a resilient attitude and confidence to attempt any challenge.
Pupils throughout school are provided with a range of activities and opportunities to develop these mathematical skills through individual, paired and group work. Teachers use White Rose Maths schemes of learning and resources to support planning and provide children with consistent approaches from Year 1 to Year 6. Reception use White Rose Maths materials as well as the Early Years Framework and Development Matters documentation. Teachers use high quality resources to embed the mastery approach to mathematics, moving between concrete, pictorial and abstract representations of mathematical concepts to consolidate key ideas and develop children's fluency.
During the Early Years Foundation Stage, children will be learning basic number skills involving counting on and back, recognising and writing numbers. They will also identify and name basic shapes, recognise, describe and repeat patterns and use vocabulary associated with measures. These will be taught through carefully planned continuous provision activities, where children can work with increasing independence. Children explore numbers, shapes and patterns through stories, songs and carefully planned continuous provision activities. In Reception, we introduce our maths flashcards for daily practice at home to develop number formation, subitising of numbers to 10, addition and subtraction bonds for numbers to 10 as well as other key mathematical skills.
Through Years 1 and 2 these skills will be developed further, as children become more confident with mental fluency of whole numbers, counting and place value. This will involve working with numerals, words and the four operations, including using practical resources. Children will begin to solve simple problems and explain their answers using mathematical vocabulary. They will also recognise, describe, draw, compare and sort different shapes and use a range of measure to compare and describe different quantities.
Through Years 3 and 4, children will work with increasingly large whole numbers, as well as negative numbers and decimals. They will be taught efficient mental and written methods using the four operations. They will also develop mathematical reasoning so they can analyse statements and problems to conjecture and solve creatively. By the end of Year 4, children should have understand and recall their multiplication tables up to 12 x 12, showing precision and fluency in their work. At the end of Year 4, children will take part in the Multiplication Tables Check in which they must answer 25 multiplications, each with a 6-second time limit.
Through Years 5 and 6, children will extend their knowledge and understanding of the number system, developing connections between the four operations and using efficient written methods for these. They will be solving a wider range of problems that use all these skills and reason about them mathematically. Geometry and measures work will also consolidate and extend knowledge already developed. By the end of Year 6, children should be fluent in written methods for all four operations including long multiplication and division, and in working with fractions, decimals and percentages. This will help to prepare them for their end of Key Stage tests where they will have to apply their mental arithmetic, reasoning and problem solving skills.
To support the learning of times tables up to 12 x 12, we have introduced the Superheroes Times Tables Challenge throughout school. Help your child to learn their times tables at home so they can defeat the challenges and earn their awards!
NumBots is used throughout Key Stage 1 to boost addition and subtraction skills, with Times Tables Rock Stars being used to develop recall of multiplication and division facts. Both are online resources that will support your child's maths education at home and in school.