Compassion, Courage, Justice
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
Intent
At Monkton Church of England Primary School, our intent for mathematics is to teach a rich, balanced and progressive curriculum using maths to reason, problem solve and develop fluent conceptual understanding in each area. That builds skills for life to better make sense of the world around them by making connections between mathematics and everyday life and resilience when faced with a challenge. The structure of the mathematics curriculum across school shows clear progression in line with age related expectations. As well as teaching the National Curriculum objectives for each year group, we embed maths within engaging cross-curricular projects. Teaching curriculum content in blocks allows children to explore skills and knowledge in depth and gain a secure understanding of particular subject matter. Key knowledge and skills are also revisited regularly through the two-year cycle allowing repetition to embed learning. A concrete, pictorial, abstract approach provides children with a clear structure in which they can develop their depth of understanding of mathematical concepts.
We want our children to enjoy learning maths, which comes through a flourishing belief in their own ability to achieve successfully within the challenges they undertake. In maths, we believe this is achieved when children are confidently fluent in their understanding of number and in their calculation skills. With this confidence, they can apply what they know to reason and explain their thinking and to solve problems, developing mastery and accessing higher levels of understanding. We aim to ensure that mathematics is a high-profile subject which children view positively and with a ‘Can do’ attitude.
Implementation
At Monkton teachers plan maths lessons following the National Curriculum using The White Rose Maths scheme. Maths is taught daily as a discrete lesson as well as a daily ‘Mash up’ to continual revise key elements of maths such as place value, time and money that may only been visited once a year normally.
Children learn using a range of resources, which support a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach guiding them through their understanding of mathematical processes. Children are familiar with these resources and can access them independently where needed. Our Calculation Policy is used consistently across the school and provides sequential building of knowledge and skills in using and applying the four operations.
Their progress in maths is carefully tracked through a range of assessment strategies to ensure teachers identify where children require support or challenge to assist their progress. Timely intervention (Catch up, stay up) is provided by the class teacher or support staff to address any misconceptions or gaps in understanding to enable children to confidently progress towards their next lesson. More confident mathematicians are challenged to show their mastery of maths concepts through investigations and problem solving tasks.
Children secure key number facts through mental maths challenges (including times tables awards/certificates, Times Tables Rock Stars, Numbots) progressing through levels so that number bonds and times tables facts are fluently recalled and applied. Achievement is celebrated at all stages through school wide presentations and displays as at Monkton we believe that ‘In God’s eyes, everyone is special’.
By engaging children in whole school challenges we maintain a high profile for the teaching and learning of maths. Through cross-curricular practical activities we make maths relevant to children’s lived experiences.
Feedback is given in a variety of ways to ensure pupils are well informed and making visible progress, including in the moment marking so children have instant feedback. Discussion is essential to learning and children are encouraged to discuss their thoughts, ideas and methods with a partner, group or the teacher. Children work both collaboratively and independently when solving problems which require them to persevere and develop resilience.
Impact
By the end of KS2 we aim for children to be fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics with a conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately. They should have the skills to solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of situations with increasing sophistication, including in unfamiliar contexts and to model real-life scenarios. Children will be able to reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry and develop and present a justification, argument or proof using mathematical language.
The impact of our mathematics curriculum is that children understand the relevance and importance of what they are learning in relation to real world concepts. Children know that maths is a vital life skill that they will rely on in many areas of their daily life. Children have a positive view of maths due to learning in an environment where maths is promoted as being an exciting and enjoyable subject in which they can investigate and ask questions; they know that it is OK to be ‘wrong’ and that this can strengthen their resilience because the journey to finding an answer is most important. Children are confident to ‘have a go’ and choose the equipment they need to help them to learn along with the strategies they think are best suited to each problem.
Our maths books evidence work of a high standard of which children clearly take pride; the range of activities demonstrate good coverage of fluency, reasoning and problem solving. Our feedback and interventions support children to strive to be the best mathematicians they can be. Our school standards are high, we moderate our books both internally and externally.
Maths Skills Progress Documents
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Maths Skills Progression - EYFS
Maths Skills Progression 1-6
Useful links:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/index.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z826n39
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting
Mathematics National Curriculum
For further information about the Mathematics Programme of Study followed as detailed in the National Curriculum please follow this link:
The White Rose Curriculum is the approach we use for Mathematics at Monkton CEP School. The pdf’s demonstrate how White Rose works in blocks to cover all areas of the Mathematics Curriculum.
At Monkton CEP School we also have an open door policy, so that any more specific questions can be directed towards your child's class teacher or the Maths Coordinator Mrs J Guilder.