Maths

Subject Leaders 

Miss Louise Fredericks

Mathematics is taught in mixed ability classes across the school.

Throughout the school we try and give children the opportunity to explore new concepts through the use of concrete, pictorial and abstract activities. We encourage the children to use a range of resources,  such as Base 10, Numicon, cubes, 10s frames etc to support them and ensure that we promote lots of discussion involving mathematical language.

Aims

The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils have conceptual understanding and are able to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately to problems
• Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
• Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

The main focus within Numeracy is to ensure that all pupils develop confidence and mental fluency within whole numbers, counting and place value. This involves working with numerals, words and the four operations.

Children are encouraged to use mathematical vocabulary when discussing different topics within Numeracy and Mathematical vocabulary is regularly added to a range of engaging Numeracy displays around the school, to ensure that children have access to it on a day to day basis.

Mathematics is taught discretely throughout the school, although cross curricular links with other subjects are also promoted and practised regularly.

From Year 1 onwards, children are given mathematical tasks/homework to bring home on a weekly basis. This is linked to the weekly planning and reflects work completed by pupils in lessons.

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

The reinforcement nature of the homework tasks set means that pupils benefit a great deal from sharing these tasks with an adult at home. Much of the learning is achieved through discussion and interaction with an adult. Being able to support your child in this way really will help them to develop mathematically. Maths games are sent home for some pupils to reinforce key mathematical concepts covered in school and to promote learning in a fun and enjoyable manner. There are a number of useful links to websites and a list of suitable maths apps available from the school’s website.

You can further help your child with mathematics, by:

Key Stage 1:

Counting:

Reading, writing, recognising and ordering numbers.

Counting forwards and backwards.

Saying the next number in a sequence.

Practise number bonds to 10 and 20.

Practise number bonds of ALL numbers to 20

Practise telling the time, using both digital and analogue clocks:

They need to know:

o'clock, half past, quarter past, quarter to (and to 5 minute intervals by the end of Year 2!)

recognise and order calendar days, months and seasons

Handling money:

helping with shopping

handling money and recognising coins

working out change - using 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p coins

Play number games: e.g. Snakes and Ladders, Snap, and Ludo

This helps with sequencing, ordering and counting on

Older children could play board games, e.g. Monopoly

Help with cooking, estimating and weighing

Recognition of shapes around them, both solid (3D) and flat (2D) shapes:

cube, cuboid, cylinder, sphere, cone, triangular prism, etc.

square, rectangle, circle, triangle, hexagon etc.

Key Stage 2:

TELLING THE TIME – this is vital for children to be able to tell the time to 5 minute intervals on an analogue clock. Please get your child an analogue watch and practise telling the time with them. Children in Year 3 should be able to tell the time to the nearest 5 minute interval.

PRACTISE MULTIPLICATION TABLES - this is also vital. Children will be taught their multiplication tables at school but must practise regularly to ensure that they have rapid (instant), accurate recall.

(Linked with above) Completing multiplication grids on a regular basis (timed as children become more proficient)

Card games and counting games (e.g. Snakes & Ladders, Ludo and any dice games, great for mental maths practice)

Recognising numbers when out and about (e.g. house numbers-odds and evens, bus numbers, car number plates, aisle numbers in supermarkets etc.)

Helping in the supermarket (e.g. paying and change, weighed fruit and vegetables, calculating better value etc.) Use and handle ‘real’ money

CDs/Games for learning times tables

Helping in the kitchen (e.g. weighing ingredients, time duration, counting out numbers of sausages/fish fingers/potatoes per person, volume of liquids etc.)

Posters in bedrooms (e.g. 1-100 square, multiplication square, times tables posters). Put these at children's eye level- next to their bed is perfect!

Using mathematical vocabulary, eg: How many more do I need?, Is your bag heavier than Tom's?, etc.

Using timetables (e.g. bus/train times, TV guides, programming DVD/Sky player to record for time durations etc.)

Take and compare measurements when completing DIY tasks (e.g. measuring space for curtains, furniture, wall paper, etc.)

More information about helping at home can be found below, together with the ‘Maths Parent Workshop’ .