MATHEMATICS
‘By following in the footsteps of Jesus,
we are making the heart, mind and spirit soar’
Our actions and words of today are the footprints of our future.
The basic skills of mathematics are vital for the life opportunities of our children. Our aim is for all children to think mathematically, enabling them to reason and solve problems in a range of contexts.
Intent
At St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, our Mathematics curriculum has been developed to ensure every child can achieve in mathematics. Children can experience a sense of accomplishment as they solve a problem for the first time, discover different solutions and make links between different areas of mathematics, leading them to enjoy the subject. It provides pupils with a deep understanding of the subject through a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach.
Impact
We are able to show success in our implementation as we can see:
- Children who enjoy and access their Maths lessons regardless of ability.
- Knowledge being maintained and built upon from year to year.
- Children who are fluent with number facts.
- A vast array of problems being accessed by any and every child.
Expectations:
Below are the expectations for each year group.
Here is a progression throughout the year groups for each unit of Maths.
Geometry - properties of shape
Implementation
Our Maths Curriculum follows a mastery approach, which embeds fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills.
In EYFS, we use a flexible, multi-scheme approach including elements of Power Maths and White Rose Maths.
In KS1 and KS2, we base our lessons on the Power Maths scheme of learning but also incorporate elements of White Rose Maths, TTRS, Rapid Recall and NCETM schemes of work because we are aware that all children learn in different ways and at different speeds.
Combining a range of approaches within our Maths Curriculum enables a greater equality for all and encourages better progress for all learners.
Our Maths lessons are designed through using the notion of 'intelligent practice'. This ensures that children's learning is continually scaffolded and challenged appropriately, encouraging children to be flexible in their thinking.
Within our lessons, we are providing the children with stem sentences which offer them a structure to respond to questions within the lesson.
Rapid graspers of a particular concept are provided with an array of challenges. These challenges are designed to ensure that pupils 'go deeper' with their learning, through reasoning and problem solving.
Our Maths curriculum is designed to ensure that there is clear progression year by year, starting in the Foundation Stage and progressing to Y6. The curriculum is also designed to ensure that Maths concepts are embedded into children’s long term memory. We ensure that concepts are explored deeply and our long-term plan is carefully designed in order to ensure that the new learning children gain, builds upon previous knowledge. The careful design of our plans ensures that pupils are able to know more, do more and remember more.
Mastery Mathematics
At St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, we believe that all children can succeed in Maths and that everyone should have a positive mind-set towards the subject. In order to achieve this, we feel that teaching in a mastery approach will best support our children's attainment and attitude.
Below are some more reasons why we use this mastery approach:
- There is an expectation that all pupils are capable of achieving high standards in mathematics.
- Pupils progress through the curriculum content at the same pace.
- Differentiation is achieved by challenging deep knowledge and understanding and through individual support and intervention.
- Teaching is underpinned by methodical curriculum design and supported by carefully crafted lessons and resources to foster deep conceptual and procedural knowledge.
- Carefully designed variation, builds fluency and understanding of underlying mathematical concepts.
