‘Mathematics is a creative and highly interconnected 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.’ – National Curriculum for England, 2014.

Our Maths curriculum

Here at Bere Regis, we have developed our own Maths curriculum, based on the following principles:

• Enabling children to become confident, competent and independent mathematicians. Helping them to develop into resilient and inquisitive learners – skills needed to become life-long mathematicians.
• Building a deep conceptual understanding of maths and its interrelated content so that children can apply their learning in different situations.
• Developing children’s ability to articulate, discuss and explain their thinking using appropriate mathematical vocabulary.
• Creating ‘Mistake friendly’ classrooms, where children see mistakes as learning tools – there is an emphasis placed upon developing the power to ‘think’ rather than just the ‘do’.
• Instilling the mind-set in every child and staff member that everyone can do maths and that maths is for everyone…EVERYONE CAN!

Aims

We aim, through our Maths curriculum, for children to develop the skills and knowledge they require to tackle mathematical problems in everyday life as well as those they will need for their next stage of education. These include:

• Adapting their strategy to suit the problem or situation.
• Using different representations to solve the problem, show their working and prove their thinking.
• Making connections between different areas of mathematics.
• Working both collaboratively and independently.
• Having a secure understanding in number, place value and the four operations.
• Understanding, using and applying a range of mathematical vocabulary.
• Explaining how they solved different problems and why they used the method they did.

We follow the White Rose maths planning linked with the NCTEM spine points and materials. White Rose planning is split into ‘Schemes of Learning’ for each topic, which breaks down the National Curriculum into ‘small steps’, with notes/guidance, key questions and examples of fluency, reasoning and problem solving.

The three main areas of maths are:

• Fluency – 3 areas: efficiency (using what you know), accuracy (use of facts, checking) and flexibility (knowledge of more than one approach).
• Reasoning – a route through a problem, solving conflicts on the way- use ‘Because...(Having to explain), ‘Convince me!’, ‘Does that mean…?’, value the process more than the product.
• Problem Solving –find all possibilities, visualising problems, logic, rules & patterns, word problems

Early Maths

Children in reception, take part in the ‘Mastering Number Programme’. This programme aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim over time is that children will leave key stage one with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. Attention will be given to key knowledge and understanding needed in Reception classes, and progression through key stage one to support success in the future.

Home learning

All our children have access to Numbots, Time Tables Rock Stars and My Maths, to support their learning in school. We encourage our families to use these online resources regularly at home to support number fluency. All children from year one upwards are assigned activities to complete on My Maths each week as part of their homework.