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Maths

 

Mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.

Albert Einstein

At Loscoe C of E Primary School and Nursery, we want every child to see themselves as a mathematician. We aim to develop confident, curious and resilient learners who have secure mathematical knowledge and can use it to solve problems, explain their thinking and make connections.

We believe that all children can be successful in mathematics. Our teaching gives children opportunities to develop strong foundations, practise key skills, explore mathematical ideas and think deeply about their learning.

Our Maths Lead is Mrs Wendy Lynam. For further information about mathematics at Loscoe, please contact wlynam@loscoe.derbyshire.sch.uk.

Our Maths Curriculum

We use the White Rose Maths scheme to support the sequencing and progression of our mathematics curriculum.

However, we recognise that no two classes, cohorts or children are exactly the same. Teachers therefore adapt the White Rose materials and sequence where appropriate to respond to assessment, children's prior knowledge and the needs of individuals and cohorts.

Teachers identify what children already know, address gaps and misconceptions and provide appropriate opportunities for additional practice or greater depth. This allows our curriculum to remain ambitious while being responsive to the children we teach.

Concrete, pictorial and abstract

Across the school, we use a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach to support children in developing a secure understanding of mathematical concepts.

Concrete: Children explore mathematical ideas using practical equipment and manipulatives.

Pictorial: Children represent their understanding through pictures, models and diagrams.

Abstract: Children develop their understanding of mathematical symbols, calculations and notation.

These approaches are not simply stages that children move through and leave behind. Children are encouraged to move between different representations when this helps them understand a concept, explain their thinking or solve a problem.

Prioritising Fluency

Mathematical fluency is a whole-school priority.

We want children to develop secure number knowledge and increasingly efficient strategies so that key mathematical facts can be recalled accurately and confidently.

Alongside daily opportunities to develop fluency within maths lessons, children take part in weekly arithmetic challenges. These provide regular opportunities to retrieve, revisit and apply previously learnt knowledge.

Children also use the Emile app to practise and consolidate key mathematical skills, including number fluency and times tables.

Regular retrieval and practice help children to build automaticity, freeing up their working memory so that they can focus on more complex mathematical thinking and problem-solving.

Developing mathematical reasoning

Being successful in maths is about much more than finding the correct answer. We want our children to be able to explain, justify and communicate their mathematical thinking.

Reasoning is therefore developed throughout our maths curriculum.

Teachers explicitly model how mathematicians think and use mathematical sentence stems to support children in explaining their ideas. These provide children with the language and structure needed to articulate their reasoning.

We also use metacognitive approaches to encourage children to think about their own learning. Children are encouraged to consider what they already know, choose an appropriate strategy, explain why they have chosen it and reflect on whether it has been successful.

Through modelling, discussion and questioning, children learn that mathematics is about thinking, making connections and explaining, not simply completing calculations.

Supporting every mathematician

Assessment is an important part of our maths teaching. Teachers continually check children's understanding and use this information to adapt future teaching.

Where children have gaps in their mathematical knowledge, we provide targeted support and intervention to help secure the foundational knowledge they need.

Children who grasp concepts quickly are given opportunities to deepen their understanding through reasoning, problem-solving, making connections and applying their knowledge in increasingly challenging contexts.

Our aim is for all children to experience success while receiving the appropriate level of support and challenge.

Times tables

Developing secure multiplication and division knowledge is an important part of becoming a fluent mathematician.

Children regularly practise their times tables in school and are encouraged to develop both accuracy and automatic recall. The Emile app provides additional opportunities for children to practise times tables and other fluency skills in an engaging way.

As children progress through school, they are encouraged not only to recall multiplication facts but also to use known facts to derive new information, make connections and solve increasingly complex calculations and problems.

Maths at Home

We recognise that parents and carers play an important role in developing children's confidence and attitudes towards mathematics.

We use resources from the National Numeracy Family Maths Toolkit to strengthen the partnership between home and school.

As part of our homework offer, families are provided with fun, practical family maths activities which encourage children and adults to explore mathematics together. These activities help children see that maths is not something that only happens in the classroom. It is part of everyday life, from cooking and shopping to measuring, telling the time, playing games and spotting patterns.

The emphasis is on talking, exploring and enjoying maths together, rather than simply completing worksheets.

Supporting Parents and Carers

We also want parents and carers to feel confident supporting mathematics at home.

Our 'Help Your Child Love Maths' workshops provide opportunities for families to find out more about how we teach mathematics at Loscoe and how they can support their children.

Using resources and ideas from the National Numeracy Family Maths Toolkit, we aim to help families develop positive attitudes towards mathematics and provide practical ideas that can easily be used at home.

Most importantly, we want children to hear the message from both school and home that:

Everyone can learn maths, making mistakes is part of learning, and becoming a confident mathematician comes through exploring, thinking and practising.

Key Instant Recall Facts EYFS - Y6

Maths core knowledge progression document

Maths core knowledge flash cards by year group

 

 

 

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