Maths
Intent:
Mathematics is an important and creative discipline that helps us to understand and change the world.
We want all pupils at Sessay to experience the enjoyment and power of mathematics and develop a sense of curiosity about the subject with a clear understanding.
At Sessay, we build up positive ‘can do’ attitudes and we promote the fact that ‘We can all do Maths!’
We believe that all children can achieve in Mathematics and teach for a secure and deep understanding of mathematical concepts through manageable steps. We use mistakes and misconceptions as a vital part of learning and provide challenge through rich and sophisticated problems.
We aim to ensure that all pupils:
- Become fluent in the basics of mathematics so they develop a secure, conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
- Be able to solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of problems with increasing difficulty, including in unfamiliar contexts or real- life situations.
- Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry and develop and present a justification, argument or proof using accurate mathematical language.
- Have an appreciation of number and number operations, which enables mental calculations and written procedures (or methods) to be carried out efficiently, fluently and accurately to be successful in mathematics.
Implementation:
Maths at Sessay is taught using the White Rose scheme, which is supplemented by other materials where required. From EYFS to Y6 we follow the small steps approach within the scheme, which is based on the national curriculum. We include maths across the curriculum, showing its application in all aspects of life. e.g. statistics in science/geography.
Fluency
Fluency of number and calculations forms part of our daily diet of maths, whether this is a lesson starter or part of an early bird (registration) activity. Younger pupils will have a counting starter and pupils at the end of KS1 and into KS2 will have arithmetic practice to practise taught skills and knowledge to embed this into their long-term memory through regular revisiting.
Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract (CPA)
When concepts are taught children will have access to concrete materials. The types of concrete apparatus we use in class can be seen in our calculation policy. Maths manipulatives allow children to have a deeper understanding of concepts, to give meaning to those concepts and to make connections more readily. Through the steps of learning children will then be exposed to pictorial and abstract forms of the mathematical concept they are learning about in order to master each step of learning.
Online Tools
Additional online tools, such as Times Tables Rock Stars, allow children to practise recall of number facts.
Whole school events raise the profile of maths within school and allow children to further develop their love of maths. Some examples of whole events are:
NSPCC Number Day
Times Table Rock Stars tournaments
Census Day
Impact:
The impact of our mathematics curriculum is that children understand the relevance and importance of what they are learning in relation to real world concepts. Children know that maths is a vital life skill that they will rely on in many areas of their daily life. Children have a positive view of maths due to learning in an environment where maths is promoted as being an exciting and enjoyable subject in which they can investigate and ask questions; they know that it is reasonable to make mistakes because this can strengthen their learning through the journey to finding an answer. Children are confident to ‘have a go’ and choose the equipment they need to help them to learn along with the strategies they think are best suited to each problem. Our children have a good understanding of their strengths and targets for development in maths and what they need to do to improve. Our maths books evidence work of a high standard of which children clearly take pride; the components of the teaching sequences demonstrate good coverage of fluency, reasoning and problem solving. Our feedback and interventions support children to strive to be the best mathematicians they can be.
