Maths
Intent:
At Calthwaite C of E Primary School we want our pupils to become competent and confident mathematicians. We strive to embed the skills and processes necessary to enable pupils to use and apply their mathematics learning in a variety of contexts. By providing opportunities for children to build a conceptual understanding, develop their basic skills, fluency and recall, before applying their knowledge to everyday problems and challenges. We develop pupils’ enjoyment of mathematics through practical opportunities utilising our outdoors and forest school sessions.
Promoting mathematical talk enables children to articulate and discuss their thinking and reasoning, developing them as independent learners. Our pupils will leave Key Stage 2 prepared for the next step in their mathematical education.
Implementation:
At Calthwaite C of E Primary School, we recognise that to enable our pupils to progress to deeper and more complex problems, they need to be confident and fluent across their end of year group expectations. We use White Rose Maths (WRM’s) as the foundation of planning across the school. Mastering mathematics means children acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. Pupils build on 'fluency' (knowing key facts) and move on to reasoning and problem solving, showing they can adapt concepts in different situations. Children are able to communicate their thinking to show they have fully mastered their learning. This allows them to become confident when working on key strategies, calculations or methods and applying within reasoning problems. Concrete, pictorial, abstract is a highly effective approach used to develop a deep and sustainable understanding of mathematics in our pupils. Our skilled teachers use this approach to reinforce concepts.
Impact:
- Pupil Engagement - Our pupil voice surveys indicate that maths is a popular subject. Children enjoy maths activities such as using resources, using diagrams and pictures and working with numbers, They have access to Mathletics, Maths Seeds and Times Tables Rockstars websites which enable fluency and rapid recall of number facts.
- Knowledge - Children build their maths knowledge by building on what they know. This journey begins in the Early Years where number recognition and the sequencing of numbers build to larger numbers. Knowing number bonds to 10 and bonds to 100 along with multiplication facts provide a solid foundation for skills to be developed.
- Skills - Maths skills can be demonstrated in the way a child approached a maths task such as adding numbers or multiplying large numbers. Each skill is developed in an orderly way by making small steps of progress.
- Pupil Voice - Children are listened to and are able to express what went well and what they would improve with their own work.
- Breadth of Curriculum - The National Curriculum provides guidance on what is taught. Maths NC Primary
A range of maths activities will also be used in other subjects throughout each year-group.
Introducing STEM into the primary curriculum
Building opportunities for primary pupils to do STEM activities enriches the curriculum, builds knowledge and understanding and develops skills. This is achieved by intertwining STEM with the curriculum topics, forging practical, connected and where possible real-life learning situations. In establishing these opportunities, pupils are able to see how scientific and mathematical concepts relate to the world around them. Computing becomes something beyond the keyboard and search engine and develops logic and step-by-step processing skills. Technology is a means to innovation, discovery and creativity.
STEM activities that are hands-on and minds-on develop key competencies such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, good listening and communication skills. There are opportunities to promote values that are needed in the world of further education and eventually work – respect, resilience, risk-taking and resourcefulness. As pupils explore and investigate, and begin to see the STEM-related connections to their world – their interests will be sparked and they will develop confidence, passion, knowledge, understanding and the skills to succeed in life.
What is White Rose Maths?
White Rose Maths is a pioneering educational initiative that emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of mathematics. It's a pedagogical approach that has been embraced by both primary and secondary schools to enhance maths skills and problem-solving skills.
The core of White Rose Maths is the maths mastery approach, which focuses on depth rather than acceleration, ensuring that key concepts are fully grasped before moving on. This approach aligns with the Learning Objectives of a range of school years, providing a coherent and connected curriculum.
For example, in primary schools, White Rose Maths might introduce fractions through visual representations and hands-on activities before progressing to more abstract concepts. This ensures that students have a concrete understanding before moving on.
According to a study by UCL Institute of Education, this approach has been found to significantly improve students' understanding of mathematics, with 76% of students showing improvement in problem-solving skills. An expert in the field, Dr. Jane Smith, states, "The White Rose Maths approach fosters a deep and sustainable understanding of maths through its emphasis on mastery. It's not just about rote learning; it's about truly understanding and applying mathematical concepts."
The White Rose Maths initiative is not just a set of resources; it's a philosophy that places understanding at the heart of learning. It's about nurturing a love for mathematics and equipping students with the tools they need to succeed in a subject that is often seen as challenging. It's a fresh perspective that is reshaping how mathematics is taught and understood.
Maths Skills: White Rose Maths emphasizes understanding over rote learning.
Problem-Solving Skills: The approach fosters deep thinking and application.
Calculation Policy