Intent
We aim to provide all pupils with the learning opportunities and challenges that will allow them to reach their full potential and to be prepared for life-long learning '
This statement determines everything we do at Dinton Primary. By adapting the White Rose Scheme, we have created a maths scheme tailored to the needs of our children. We see maths as both a key skill within school and a life skill to be utilised through everyday experiences. Our maths curriculum equips our children with the tools to apply knowledge learnt over time to a variety of contexts that they will come across in their academic learning and later in life.
Maths is taught as a progression beginning in the Foundation Stage where the children work to achieve 'Early Learning Goals' in Number and Numerical Patterns, progressing to upper KS2 who are developing skills to take them on to secondary school. Each topic is taught in small steps, with opportunities to revisit topics throughout the year to ensure the children achieve a level of mastery.
Pupils are challenged through a range of opportunities in which they are required to reason and apply their knowledge in order to solve problems, rather than through any acceleration of learning new content.
Our Calculation Policy can be found at the bottom of this page, and this enables parents to see the types of methods their children will be using in the class.
Implementation
In EYFS our teaching delivers the content and expectations of the Early Learning Goals. In key stage 1 and 2 our teaching is informed by the National Curriculum 2014 which separates maths into a number of sections. These are: Number, Measure, Geometry, Statistics, and in the upper KS2 Ratio and Proportion.
Maths is taught 5 days a week in every class, alongside fluency, and there are also opportunities to demonstrate maths skills in other curriculum areas.
We adopt a mastery approach in all classes:
- Mastering maths means pupils acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject.
- The phrase ‘teaching for mastery’ describes the elements of classroom practice and school organisation that combine to give pupils the best chances of mastering maths.
In each concept of maths children develop:
- Fluency: Quick and efficient recall of facts and procedures and the flexibility to move between different contexts and representations of mathematics.
- Reasoning: Reasoning in maths is the process of applying logical thinking to a situation to derive the correct problem-solving strategy for a given question, and using this method to develop and describe a solution. Reasoning is the bridge between fluency and problem solving.
- Problem Solving: Problem solving in maths is finding a way to apply knowledge and skills you already have to answer unfamiliar problems.
During lessons:
- Children have access to a range of practical and visual resources should they require it.
- Teachers model a range of methods and strategies including making links to past learning.
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- Children learn a range of methods and strategies to answer a range of mathematical questions and also to develop a level of oracy which enables a child to explain their thinking when solving mathematical problems.
Standardised tests such as SATs and NFER are also used to help determine children’s knowledge and understanding, and identify gaps in their learning. Teachers can then plan lessons and interventions to ensure that children make progress.
Impact
At Dinton C of E Primary, we recognise that mathematics is essential to everyday life. Our regular maths lessons ensure a coverage of number, calculation, geometry, measures and statistics throughout the year. We want Dinton children to develop a love and understanding of mathematics where they feel secure in the skills that we have taught and able to apply these to different aspects of the primary curriculum. Children should leave Dinton with an embedded enjoyment of mathematics, feeling confident in their mathematical ability and able to use their skills across the curriculum.
