At Hamsey Green Primary school we value every pupil and the contribution they have to make. As a result, we aim to ensure that every child achieves success and that all are enabled to develop their skills to be a success in the future. Mathematics is both a key skill within school, and a life skill to be utilised throughout every person’s day-to-day experiences.

Mathematics equips pupils with the uniquely powerful set of tools to understand and change the world. These tools include logical reasoning, problem-solving skills and the ability to think in abstract ways. Mathematics is important in everyday life. The jobs our children will apply for have yet to be created – meaning they need to be equipped with the skills to solve any problem they could be faced with.

The National Curriculum for mathematics (2014) describes in detail what pupils must learn in each year group. Combined with our Calculation Policy, this ensures continuity, progression and high expectations for attainment in mathematics. A positive attitude towards mathematics must be encouraged amongst all of our pupils to foster confidence and achievement in a skill that is essential in our society. At Hamsey Green we use a Mastery approach, supported by teacher-made resources and White Rose Education. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils achieve mastery in the key concepts of mathematics, appropriate for their age group, so that they make genuine progress and avoid gaps in their understanding that provide barriers to learning as they move through education.

We aim to provide the pupils with a mathematics curriculum and high quality teaching to produce individuals who are numerate, creative, independent, inquisitive, enquiring and confident. We also aim to provide a stimulating environment and adequate resources so that pupils can develop their mathematical skills to the full.

Our pupils should:

• Foster a positive attitude to mathematics
• To develop a growth mindset through: independent thinking, perseverance, cooperation and self-confidence through a sense of achievement and success.
• To develop a deeper understanding of mathematics through a process of enquiry and investigation.
• To develop the ability to apply knowledge, skills and ideas in real-life contexts outside the classroom, and become aware of the uses of mathematics in the wider world.
• To develop an ability and inclination to work both alone and cooperatively to solve mathematical problems.
• have a well-developed sense of the size of a number and where it fits into the number system
• know by heart number facts such as number bonds, multiplication tables, doubles and halves
• use what they know by heart to figure out numbers mentally
• calculate accurately and efficiently, both mentally and in writing and on paper,
• drawing on a range of calculation strategies
• recognise when it is appropriate to use a calculator and be able to do so effectively
• make sense of number problems, including non-routine/’real’ problems and identify the operations needed to solve them
• explain their methods and reasoning, using correct mathematical terms
• judge whether their answers are reasonable and have strategies for checking them where necessary
• suggest suitable units for measuring and make sensible estimates of measurements
• explain and make predictions from the numbers in graphs, diagrams, charts and tables
• develop spatial awareness and an understanding of the properties of 2d and 3dshapes

Pupils are provided with a variety of opportunities to develop and extend their Mathematical skills, including:

• Group work
• Paired work
• Whole class teaching

Pupils engage in:

• the development of mental strategies
• written methods
• practical work
• investigational work
• problem solving
• mathematical discussion
• consolidation of basic skills and number facts
• maths games

We recognise the importance of establishing a secure foundation in mental calculation and recall of number facts before standard written methods are introduced. We use accurate mathematical vocabulary in our teaching and children are expected to use it in their verbal and written explanations.

Mathematics contributes to many subjects and it is important that the children are given opportunities to apply and use Mathematics in real contexts. Time must be found in other subjects for pupils to develop their Numeracy Skills, e.g. there should be regular, carefully planned opportunities for measuring in science, for the consideration of properties of shape and geometric patterns in art, and for the collection and presentation of data in science, history and geography.

We endeavour at all times to set challenging work, motivating and encouraging the pupils to think about how they learn and to talk about what they have been learning. Additional enrichment opportunities are provided for pupils to further develop mathematical thinking e.g. through cooking, music, and maths investigations and games.

Teachers plan problem solving and investigational activities every week to ensure that pupils develop the skills of mathematical thinking and enquiry.

To provide adequate time for developing mathematics, maths is taught daily and discretely. Maths lessons may vary in length but will usually last for about 45 minutes in Key Stage 1 and 60 minutes in Key Stage 2.

 

We are currently supported by training through the Maths Hub provided by the NCETM. Click here for more details on the principles of mastery from their website.

As part of our work with the NCETM, we are proudly part of the Mastering Number programme which is running in KS1 and now KS2. This programme follows a series of daily 10 minute sessions developing a particular aspect of number. 

Here at Hamsey Green, we have adopted the Mastery approach which we deliver through the White Rose Scheme of learning. Mastery is an internationally recognised and evidence-based approach to teaching mathematics. Mastery can take many forms in different schools based on their interpretation. 

For more information on White Rose, click here to be linked to their website.

 

We follow EYFS curriculum guidance for Mathematics. However, we are committed to ensuring the confident development of number sense and put emphasis on mastery of key early concepts. Pupils initially explore numbers to 20 and the development of models and images for numbers as a solid foundation for further progress.