Mathematics

Intent

At Frithwood Primary School, we aim to instil in children a positive attitude towards in their learning and a passion and fascination for Maths. We understand that mathematics is a fundamental part of everyday life and through our high quality teaching, children are provided with the foundation for understanding the world. Along their learning journey, children are offered many opportunities to enrich their Mathematics skills, in order to develop a love and sense of curiosity for the subject. 

We strive for pupils to:

• Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics so that they are able to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately
• Reason mathematically by justifying, making links to known facts, or providing proof using mathematical language
• Become curious mathematicians who show resilience, perseverance and independence
• Become skilled mathematicians and solve problems by applying their mathematics knowledge and tools to a variety of new and abstract contexts
• Have a deep understanding of their learning 

Implementation

• At Frithwood Primary School, we follow a ‘Mastery’ approach using the ‘White Rose Maths’ scheme of work. When taught to master maths, children develop their mathematical fluency and are able to solve non-routine maths problems. Throughout our school, we use the ‘Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach, as it helps children to develop a deep and secure understanding of Maths. 

•  Carefully structured, high quality and engaging Maths lessons are taught daily; covering a broad and challenging mathematical curriculum including: elements of number, calculation, geometry, measures and statistics. Teachers appropriately plan for the sequencing, repetition and re-teaching of previous knowledge skills and understanding throughout the year.

• Our Mathematics curriculum provides many opportunities for children to develop confidence and fluency. The use of practical equipment through our CPA approach supports the children to gain a deeper conceptual understanding, before providing challenge.

• Teachers provide children with many opportunities for quality talk to enable children to develop a depth of understanding using higher order skills of explaining, reasoning, justifying and conjecturing.

• Through our ‘Mastery’ approach at Frithwood Primary School, all pupils have access to the full Maths curriculum. This inclusive approach and its emphasis on promoting multiple methods of solving a single problem builds self-confidence and resilience in pupils. Maths teaching is differentiated to ensure all pupils are challenged and able to excel. High quality modelling and scaffolding help to make sure all children can make progress in lessons. Advanced learners in Maths are challenged and engaged through problem solving, reasoning and having a ‘low threshold-high ceiling’ (LTHC) approach.

• On-going assessment and feedback during lessons helps to identify children who need additional support, who are provided with extra time for consolidation and interventions to support their learning.

• Combining Maths learning with other subjects as appropriate explicitly joins children’s learning together and helps pupils develop a sound cross-curricular understanding of the world.

• Children enjoy online activities to enhance their learning at home, such as Times Tables Rockstars and Mathletics.

Impact

Children at Frithwood Primary School engage confidently in Maths activities and are resilient. They understand the relevance and importance of what they are learning and pupils demonstrate a quick recall of facts. Children demonstrate fluency in strategies and are able to move between different contexts and representations of mathematics flexibly. At Frithwood, our children make connections and show confidence in believing that they can achieve.

Through our enriched Maths curriculum, children will not only deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts, but will leave Frithwood with the mathematical skills needed to empower them in their everyday experiences in the wider world.