Maths
Without mathematics there's nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.
- Shakuntala Devi
No employment can be managed without arithmetic, no mechanical invention without geometry.
- Benjamin Franklin
Vision
Our vision is to nurture articulate, confident, curious mathematicians with a love for the subject. We want our pupils to have an understanding and appreciation that maths is a fundamental part of everyday life and the world we live in.
For a one page overview of maths in Penwortham please click the image below.
What do the children learn and when?
To learn more about progression in maths please click the image below.
How do we teach maths?
From Nursery to Year 6, we teach maths using the Mastery approach which consists of five big ideas: coherence, mathematical thinking, variation, fluency and thoughtful use of representation and structure.
To support our planning of small, sequenced steps for successful Mastery teaching, we use a range of resources such as White Rose, NCETM and DfE ‘Ready to Progress’ guidance which we review and adapt to ensure learning is accessible to all.
We place a high emphasis on mathematical talk and our lessons include regular opportunities for the children to discuss their understanding and explain their thinking, both with adults and their peers. Accurate use of vocabulary is a key feature of our lessons, with teachers modelling and expecting it from the children from Nursery up to Year 6.
In Nursery and Reception, maths planning is informed by guidance from Development Matters, White Rose and the NCETM ‘Six Areas of Early Mathematics Learning’. Children have the opportunity to develop their early mathematical skills through child initiated play and adult led activities in both the indoor and outdoor areas. In addition to this, whole class maths sessions are taught daily.
Online platforms such as Times Tables Rock Stars are used to boost mathematical skills.
We use Times Tables Rock Stars to encourage fluency in multiplication and division facts with regular tournaments. Weekly tasks are set on Mathletics for homework to consolidate learning.
We also work very closely with the SW London Maths Hub to ensure we have the most up to date guidance and training.
Assessment
Teachers continuously assess throughout each lesson. Through prompt intervention or targeted questioning we ensure that the learning needs of all children are identified and addressed with the necessary support or challenge.
We use formal NFER assessments three times a year to support teachers' judgements and the statutory KS1 and KS2 tests at the end of years 2 and 6.
Our learning
What pupils at Penwortham say about maths:
Archie - I really love Maths and I want to help people who aren’t so confident to become more so. I look forward to helping organise TTRS tournaments too, writing in the Globe and generally helping others.
Abdullah - Maths is my favourite subject and I would really like other children to love it too. I am looking forward to helping out and giving tips for getting out of the learning pit!
Aya - I love Maths! I have really enjoyed the TTRS tournaments and am looking forward to organising more of them. Times tables are very important if you want to do well in Maths
Maths Week 2022 - ‘Maths Makes the World Go Round’ focused on the importance of maths in the world around us and encouraged children to explore how they can take their love of maths into possible future careers. We also found out about mathematicians from a range of backgrounds who have inspired us and helped change the world through maths.
Enrichment
Maths Bee - In May we were very excited to hold our first Maths Bee for Years 4 and 5. The children had to answer as many times tables and division facts as they could in 1 minute and they were amazing! Click here to read more about the buzz!
Chocolate Trading (click for details)
How to help your child at home
If you would like to know more about how we teach maths using resources (manipulatives), please click here. There are also some great child led videos which are a useful guide for showing the mastery approach to calculations, and are particularly helpful for highlighting the vocabulary your child will use in school.
Useful Websites
Curriculum:
Greater depth:
- Nrich Maths: NRICH - Mathematics Resources for Teachers, Parents and Students to Enrich Learning (maths.org)
- National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics:
- ‘I see’ resources by Gareth Metcalfe:
Fluency / at home practise:
- TTRS: Times Tables Rock Stars
- Maths Through Stories
- Mathletics
- Mathletics - a parents guide
- Top Marks
- C Beebies - Numberblocks
Apps:
- 1 - Minute Maths (White Rose)