Mathematics
Mathematics Lead - Mrs Prosol (Maternity Leave) and Mr Bradley
Intent
At Button Lane Primary School, our pupils have the opportunity to explore concepts and build on prior learning, taking small steps to achieve greater understanding along their mathematical learning journey. We endeavour to provide a Mastery Curriculum to support all children in reaching their full potential in preparation for secondary school and adult life. Pupils leave Button Lane Primary School with mathematical confidence, a joy of learning and are well-equipped for the challenges that lie ahead.
We believe that Mathematical understanding and fluency provides children with a foundation of knowledge that acts as a key to unlock success in all other areas of the curriculum and indeed the world. Mathematics is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. Our high-quality mathematics curriculum provides the foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation and sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject and empowers our children to use their learning positively throughout education and future life.
We believe our high quality Mathematics teaching will enable all children to engage with mathematics in an environment that promotes problem solving and reasoning, discussion and exploration. Our vision for Mathematics across school, is that all children foster the belief that they can learn, master and enjoy Mathematics. Our curriculum allows children to make connections with the use of equipment, pictures, words, objects and equations and connections into real life contexts and use this learning throughout future education and life. Teaching should ensure that every child can master an understanding and love of Maths, grow in confidence and deepen their knowledge and understanding.
Implementation
At Button Lane Primary School, we teach mathematics using a mastery approach, enabling children to develop a deep and secure understanding of mathematical concepts. Through this approach, children build fluency, confidence and the ability to solve increasingly complex problems. They use a range of representations to develop conceptual understanding and apply efficient methods to support success.
From the Early Years Foundation Stage onwards, mathematics is taught using the White Rose Maths scheme. In EYFS, children develop early number sense, focusing on numbers to 5, place value, addition and subtraction, alongside early experiences of shape, space, measure, fractions and patterns.
From Year 1 to Year 6, the White Rose Maths scheme continues to underpin our curriculum. Children revisit and build upon prior learning in carefully sequenced small steps, ensuring secure understanding of key concepts.
In Key Stage 1, children develop their understanding of place value, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, measurement, geometry and statistics. In Year 2, pupils build fluency in multiplication and division facts and further develop their understanding of fractions and measurement.
In Key Stage 2, children continue to build on prior knowledge across all areas of mathematics. Learning is structured to deepen understanding, develop fluency, and support pupils to reason mathematically and solve problems in increasingly complex contexts. Pupils are encouraged to explain their thinking, identify patterns and relationships, and reflect on efficient methods.
Mathematics is taught as a connected subject that develops over time, allowing children to make links across concepts and apply their learning in different contexts.
‘Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.’ The National Curriculum (2013)
Impact
By the end of Key Stage 2 at Button Lane, we expect that our children:
- Are fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics
- Can reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, making conjectures and identifying relationships and generalisations
- Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a range of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication
To achieve this, the Mathematics Leader works closely with the Senior Leadership Team to monitor the mathematics curriculum and the standards achieved by pupils. The Mathematics Leader ensures appropriate pitch, progression and consistency across school and uses this information to inform action planning, support and staff development.
Monitoring takes the form of:
- Lesson observations and feedback
- Learning walks and pupil voice conversations
- Book scrutiny, including pupil discussions about their learning
- Summative assessment (termly) alongside ongoing formative assessment, used to support moderation and inform Pupil Progress Meetings
- Lesson study cycles targeting key groups of pupils, particularly those at risk of underachievement
- Transition activities for Key Stage 2 pupils, including engagement with feeder secondary schools
Pupil progress meetings are used to triangulate assessment information with book scrutiny and pupil voice. This ensures that pupils not on track to meet their potential or age-related expectations are identified early. This information is used collaboratively to inform next steps in teaching, learning and targeted intervention.
Times Tables Rock Stars
Times Tables Rock Stars is part of your child's weekly homework.
Every pupil has a #TTRockStars account to use at home and in school. Times Tables Rock Stars is a carefully sequenced programme of daily times tables practice.
Weekly and termly tournaments take place across school and within year groups so it is important that every child plays regularly. Certificates are awarded during assemblies when children achieve a new Rock Status and the whole school leader board is on display in the Hall of Fame.
Children can practice in the 'Garage', earn their rock status in the 'Studio' or compete against their peers in the 'Arena'. Pupils can even challenge their peers to a battle in 'Rockslam' or play against children from all around the world in 'Festival' mode!
If you do not have your child's log-in details, please email your child's class teacher.
Numbots
Numbots is also part of your child's weekly homework.
Every pupil has a #Numbots account to use at home and in school. The log in details are the same as their #TTRockStars account.
Numbots helps children to learn and practice three core elements of arithmetic:
- Subitising - the ability instantly recognise the number of objects in a group without the need to count them
- Number bonds - pairs of numbers that add up to a certain number e.g. all the number bonds to 10.
- Adding and Subtracting
NumBots is all about every child achieving the “triple win” of understanding, recall and fluency in mental addition and subtraction, so that they move from counting to calculating.
All children from Early Years to Year 6 will benefit from playing on Numbots. Older children will progress through the early levels quickly and move on to mastering more difficult mental arithmetic.
How to support your child in mathematics
Here is a helpful Parent Teaching Support Manual which explains the structure of the Maths No Problem lessons.
Mathematics Tutorials
Our children have created Mathematics tutorials to share with parents and carers and support our children with home learning activities. Have a look on our YouTube channel.
