Our Learning / Maths
At St. Margaret Clitherow School we aim to provide a high-quality mathematics education, providing an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity in mathematical learning. We believe that all our children can succeed at maths and want all of our children to enjoy mathematics and have a positive attitude towards it. We want our children to develop the necessary skills to think deeply about maths and have the time to really understand the concepts they are being taught rather than superficial learning of sets of rules or procedures.
We follow the Essential maths sequences designed by Herts for learning at St.Margaret Clitherow School. The teaching sequences support the delivery of a spiral curriculum, in which learning is built upon step by step, sequence by sequence and year on year. The materials are aspirational and ensure progression and coverage throughout the primary phase in Years 1-6. We supplement the Essential Maths sequences with additional materials as and when needed, including White Rose Maths, NRICH, and NCETM.
The learning sequences are designed to cover National Curriculum statements and key concepts, through small learning steps with a mastery approach. They aim to develop conceptual understanding and procedural fluency in parallel, including speaking frames, practice examples, games and problem-solving opportunities for the children to build upon their prior learning.
Teachers deliver careful modelling using a concrete, pictorial, abstract approach when teaching new concepts; the children are provided with multiple representations of new concepts to ensure they have a deep and secure understanding of the new learning. Pupils actively participate through purposeful questioning, whole class discussions, talk partners, and by using their own resources to demonstrate their thinking. Regular recording opportunities encourage pupils to represent and internalise their learning, and the children are encouraged to use models, drawings, symbols and concrete resources.
All learners are given access to the same challenges so that the whole class moves through topics at broadly the same pace. Each topic is studied in depth and teachers do not move to the next stage until all children demonstrate that they have a secure understanding of the mathematical concepts being taught. Those pupils who grasp concepts quickly are challenged with rich and sophisticated problems within the topic. Those children who are not sufficiently fluent are provided with additional support to consolidate their understanding before moving on. Developing reasoning skills, particularly through the use of talk frames and vocabulary prompts is a key aspect of the children’s learning. These enable the children to articulate their thinking using accurate technical vocabulary, and support core skills such as conjecturing and generalising to investigate and problem solve.
‘Destination Questions’ are used throughout each learning sequence. These ensure that pupils have exposure to a variety of different question types and potential misconceptions at each stage of their learning. They allow teachers to check that pupils are secure in their understanding, before moving on to the next step and help to map each pupil’s learning journey against age-related expectations. As well as their daily maths lesson, the children take part in a daily, 10-minute ‘fluency’ session. The aim of these quick sessions is to revisit and secure previous learning, close gaps and build confidence. Children have the opportunity to remember and embed mathematical learning and secure fluency.
Learn more about fluency here:
https://vimeo.com/180281520
Times Table Rockstars is introduced in Year 3 and used daily throughout KS2. Times Table Rockstars is a carefully sequenced programme of daily times tables practice to ensure children become fluent in their times table facts.
All teachers have a strong knowledge of the maths curriculum and undertake regular training to update their knowledge and understanding of the curriculum. Effective formative assessment allows teachers to embed and consolidate learning and to identify gaps and misconceptions. Clear feedback is provided through the marking policy and children are given regular opportunities to respond to marking. Opportunities to mark learning during lessons are encouraged so that misconceptions can be addressed as they arise. Summative maths assessments take place termly at school, ensuring accurate and robust assessment.
Please click on the links below to find out what is covered in each year group. More detailed information on the topics covered during each term is available on the ‘Overview’ document on each class’ page.
'The first few years of a child’s life are especially important for mathematics development. Research shows that early mathematical knowledge predicts later reading ability and general education and social progress. Conversely, children who start behind in mathematics tend to stay behind throughout their whole educational journey.'
National Centre for Excellence in the teaching of Mathematics
Our objective in the EarlyYears is to ensure that all children develop firm mathematical foundations in a way that is engaging, and appropriate for their age. To ensure this, we use carefully designed materials from the NCETM which are based on international research.
There are six key areas of early mathematics learning, which collectively provide a platform for everything children will encounter as they progress through their maths learning at primary school, and beyond.
Cardinality and Counting - understanding that the cardinal value of a number refers to the quantity, or ‘howmanyness’ of things it representsNational Centre for Excellence in the teaching of Mathematics
Comparison - understanding that comparingnumbers involves knowing which numbers are worth more or less than each other
Composition - understanding that one number can be made up from (composed from) two or more smaller numbers
Pattern - looking for and finding patterns helps children notice and understand mathematical relationships
Shape and Space - understanding what happens when shapes move, or combine with other shapes, helps develop wider mathematical thinking
Measures - comparing different aspects such as length, weight and volume, as a preliminary to using units to compare later
Find more information about these here: Early Years - NCETM
There are so many ways you can support your child’s understanding of these concepts at home.
Just a few ideas include:
counting things of different sizes – this helps children to focus on the numerosity of the count
counting things that can’t be seen, such as sounds, actions, words
counting things that cannot be moved, such as pictures on a screen, birds at the bird table, faces on a shape.
playing dice games to collect a number of things
playing dice games to collect a number of things
playing track games and counting along the track
using dot cards, dominoes and dice as part of a game
playing hidden objects games where objects are revealed for a fewseconds, for example, small toys hidden under a bowl – shuffle them, lift thebowl briefly and ask how many there were
We love Numberblocks!
The Numberblocks make a regular appearance in our maths lessons. We highly recommend watching the episodes together with your child and discussing the maths you notice!
BBC iPlayer - Numberblocks
Every year we celebrate Number Day to raise money for the NSPCC. Previous celebrations have included a maths trail designed by the Youth Leadership Team and inviting our parents in to celebrate our maths learning with us.
Please scroll through the gallery below for a flavour of Maths learning at our school
1. Model a positive attitude to maths
Lots of us have a negative attitude towards maths, perhaps having had a bad experience of maths teaching during our own time at school. If we have the attitude that we are ‘bad’ at maths ourselves we can pass this same attitude on to our children.
Try to model an attitude which supports the view that Maths is not just about getting things “right” every time. A lot of Maths involves problem solving which is not a quick and easy exercise, as such pupils need to build up persistence and resilience. Parents can support this by encouraging mistakes being made and viewing this a normal learning process, rather than a negative experience. This kind of approach to learning will help to enable our children to develop a growth mindset; making a mistake isn’t something to be ashamed of - it’s an opportunity to learn and try again.
2. Support your children at home with home learning tasks using our school’s written calculation policy to help
Lots of parents want to help their children but are not sure how, or they try to teach their children the methods they learnt at school which may be different from those we currently teach. Our calculation policy details the how we use a concrete, pictorial, abstract approach to support our children’s understanding of each strand of calculation. Our aim is for our mathematicians to be able to move seamlessly back and forth between the three representations. If the children can represent their understanding in each of these three ways, they should have a deep and secure understanding of the concept.
Please ask your class teacher for a copy of our maths written calculation policy.
3. Play maths games
Games can be a really positive way for children to learn. Many games involve maths and can help children with counting, problem-solving, learning shapes and spatial awareness.
Find lots of maths games to play at home here:
https://ttrockstars.com
World famous rock musicians are the best at what they dobecause they've spent hours practising guitar chords, writing music or playingon the drums. It's just the same with times tables – all Times Table Rock Starsneed to practise and practise and practise. Short bursts of practise on a dailybasis are more effective than spending hours once a week. Times tables arerecognised as essential to access many mathematical concepts and are assessedat the end of Y4 by a national test. Children from Year 2 onwards are expectedto spend time using their Times Table Rock Stars login at home.
https://topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hiit-the-button
Prior to Year 2 (and revising beyond), learning pairs of numbers that make 10 and 20 (e.g. 6+4 = 10 or 14+6 = 20) and keeping these instantly recalled is vital. Once children begin learning their times tables, remember to keep revisiting number bonds so that they aren’t forgotten!
https://nrich.maths.org/9086
The NRICH website features a wide variety of activities, games, features and maths problems. The site is aimed at pupils and teachers, but the games section provides hundreds of games for parents and children to play together. The games are grouped by age range (lower primary and upper primary).
https://www.ictgames.com/mobilepage/index.html
Ictgames offers a wide variety of online games that are tablet and desktop computer friendly, but don’t work on smartphones. The games are aimed at children between the ages of 5 and 8. The games can be played independently but a child may need help with the initial instructions.
https://www.mathsphere.co.uk
A free collection of printable board, counter and dice games, including how to play instructions, equipment needed and coloured layouts.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games
The Topmarks website includes a wide range of maths games. The games are categorised by age group, and then by category. Each game can be played online, and states if it is tablet-friendly or uses Flash.
4. Find maths in the every day
Whether it’s weighing ingredients for a cake recipe or measuring a fence for the garden, it’s really important that children understand how maths works in the real world.
Find a list of suggested activities for finding maths in the everyday for each year group here:
A guide to some of the mental strategies we use at school.
