Our Mathematics subject leader is Mrs Wilkins
At Manor Court Community Primary we aim to develop the full potential of all our pupils as confident and capable learners who have a passion for mathematics, and so that all pupils believe that they are mathematicians. We aim to equip them with an essential set of skills that all pupils need to be successful in further education and later life.
Aims:
To ensure pupils are fluent in fact recall and calculation
To ensure pupils develop as problem solvers
To develop mathematical reasoning.
To ensure children have a deeper understanding of the key concepts of mathematics
Maths lessons at Manor Court Community Primary will include a variety of learning for children to actively participate in. Lessons will include revision of previously taught skills during a warm-up activity. Learning objectives are explicitly shared when appropriate so pupils understand the importance and usefulness of their learning. Lessons will include fluency in various forms, reasoning and problem solving. The children will be able to move through the three areas to ensure a depth of learning and a challenge for all pupils.
We ensure that the recall of key number facts is fluent by teaching multiplication facts explicitly from year two to year four; their progression is tracked so that any gaps in learning can be addressed (if these skills are not secure by then, teaching will continue into years five and six.) This prepares pupils for the upper KS2 mathematics curriculum, where the applications of these skills are essential for accessing other areas of mathematics. For example: percentages, ratio, pie charts and area & perimeter. Before the teaching of multiplication facts, number pairs to ten and twenty are taught in year one with Foundation Stage learning number pairs to five.
Calculation is another key skill that pupils need to be fluent in. To make this happen, calculation is taught explicitly in each year using the objectives from the National Curriculum. To ensure these skills are not forgotten, arithmetic is taught daily so that these key skills in calculation can be retained and pupils can become fluent. Children will be taught a progression of methods throughout their time at Manor Court Community Primary. Each year group will build on the previous calculation methods that the children will have been taught.
Promoting and developing skills in problem solving and reasoning is another essential aspect of mathematics at Manor Court Community Primary. In each maths lesson there is an opportunity to apply their new fluency skill through problem solving and reasoning. In reasoning, pupils may follow a line of enquiry, make predictions and develop an argument for their answer. They will understand how to ‘explain’ and/or ‘prove’ their answers using mathematical language.
Oracy is used from Early Years to Year 6 as a tool to support learning in mathematics and develop children’s confidence. Mathematics also interconnects with other subjects such as Science and Geography; pupils will need to be able to apply their skills from mathematics into different subjects and contexts. Where appropriate in the curriculum, Mathematics will be embedded within other subjects.
In the Early Years children are provided with songs and counting opportunities during each session. Children have access to maths activities within the indoor and outdoor provision to explore independently. This continues though to the Foundation Stage. In the EYFS each child’s key worker is aware of their child’s learning and provides next steps. In Foundation Stage children complete book work once a week which is personalised to every individual. Children are provided with daily fast maths session which incorporates key mathematical concepts from the EYFS curriculum and an opportunity to apply these through problem solving and reasoning
Mathematics is assessed each half-term using a mixture of formative and summative teacher assessment. Pupils are assessed against the National Curriculum for their particular year groups. Pupil progress is analysed in Pupil Progress Meetings each term and target pupils are then identified and shared with Phase Leaders. A plan is then devised by the class teacher to meet the additional needs of those pupils. Their progress is then monitored by Phase Leaders over the following term. Children recall and retention of the taught curriculum will be monitored and assessed. This will allow staff to ensure that there are no gaps in a child’s learning in that particular year group.
Intervention in Mathematics can and will be used for a variety of reasons. Firstly, should a child or children need help retaining and recalling the taught curriculum, intervention will allow extra time to ensure this concept is secure. As well as this, interventions can be used to secure key facts that are needed for each year group. For example, times tables and number bonds. Both these areas can be quickly supported through effective intervention. Interventions will be used to ensure children have the depth and security of learning in each year before they leave that year group.
Our aim at Manor Court Community Primary School is that every child’s needs are catered for and every child is given the chance to succeed, wherever their strength lies. It is our aim to give every child the opportunity to experience success in learning and to be the best that they can be. Teachers aim to include all pupils fully in all lessons. All pupils are encouraged to access age-appropriate learning; this is done by careful planning, differentiation, support and use of resources. If pupils are working significantly below that of their year group, teachers will plan for their individual needs, taking learning from NC objectives or p-scales if appropriate. Teachers, leaders and support staff are aware of the lowest 20% of children in the class to ensure support is given to allow children to achieve to their fullest and overcome any barriers to their learning.