Maths Intent Statement:

At Therfield First School we recognise that Maths is central to everyday life. We want all pupils to experience the beauty, power and enjoyment of Maths and develop a sense of curiosity about the subject. Mistakes and misconceptions are a positive part of our learning journey, that lead to challenge, new knowledge and deepening understanding.

Pupils are supported to master the core maths skills as a firm foundation for future learning and real life application. We aim to create independent mathematicians who are well equipped to apply their learning to a wider world.

The Maths Curriculum

National Curriculum outcomes are listed by end of Key Stage. The EYFS curriculum is covered within the Mathematics area of learning. Maths is taught daily in Years 1-4 and can be linked with other subjects depending on the topic focus. KS1 and KS2 follow a mixed age maths scheme called White Rose Maths. There are monthly multiplication madness maths meetings where children in Years 2, 3 and 4 are tested on their Times Table mile post and Year 1 are tested on counting in 2’s, 5’s and 10’s

Key Areas within the Maths Curriculum:

· Mathematical vocabulary

· Number and place value

· Addition and subtraction

· Multiplication and division

· Fractions, decimals and percentages

· Algebra (missing number problems)

· Measurement

· Properties of shape

· Position and direction

· Statistic

Maths at Therfield

Maths Fluency

In Early Years, there is no formal maths meeting but mental maths i.e. counting is included in the main maths lessons and during adult-led activities. Maths areas are available inside and outside the classroom for children to practise their maths fluency through child initiated play.

In Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, there are 3 structured Maths Meetings per week. Maths Meetings are vital for mastery within maths. The purpose of Maths Meetings are to consolidate key areas of maths and introduce new topics. These take place in a special Maths Meeting area, with a designated maths wall. Maths Meetings focus on improving children’s mental maths skills e.g. counting, times tables and recapping on previously maths facts.

Maths lessons

Planning

At Therfield First School we have mixed year groups within Key Stage 1 and Lower Key Stage 2. To support the planning and teaching of mixed year groups we use White Rose mixed age planning documents. Early Years (Reception) also use the Early Years White Rose Maths documents. Other maths schemes e.g. NCETM, Essential Maths may be used to support and extend learning in class.

Teaching

In Reception, there are three carpet-based adult-led lessons per week and two adult-led small group table activities per week. White Rose Maths is used in conjunction with NCETM (Numberblocks) to help reinforce the children’s number understanding and number facts. Continuous provision maths activities are available to all children inside and outside during child initiated learning. Children are encouraged to participate in child-initiated maths tasks to consolidate and challenge prior learning. Real-life links are made to support developing early maths skills, including the use of natural items and outside spaces.

In Key Stage 1 and Lower Key Stage 2, there are five maths lessons per week. Manipulatives and resources are used throughout each lesson to help with the learning process of CPA (Concrete, pictorial and abstract). The school has an embedded culture of highly participative lessons, with children actively engaged in the learning process. Real-life links and contexts are used wherever possible, supported by the regular use of our outside areas.

Multiplication Madness

Every 4 weeks, Year 1 to 4 are tested on their multiplication and division skills through mile posts. This takes place in the hall. Teachers are assigned a year group and throughout the session, each teacher will quiz their children on their individual mile posts e.g. 3 times table. These sessions provide 1:1 support and strategy sharing for pupils at the practicing stage of securing a times table as well as ‘testing’ them when they feel ready. Children have three levels of times tables knowledge:

Bronze – knowing the times time in order

Silver – knowing the times tables out of order

Gold – knowing the division facts for the times table

The outcome of these sessions (what the child achieved and what they are currently working on) is recorded on a coloured certificate which is sent home with the child.

Year 1 children are quizzed on counting forwards and backwards in 2s, 5s and 10s.

All children work towards the following age-appropriate mile stones:

· Mile post 1 (End of Year 2) 2,5 and 10

· Mile post 2 (End of Year 3) 3,4 and 8

· Mile post 3 (End of Year 4) 6, 7, 9, 11, 12

Once they have reached a mile post, to gold level, they are tested by the Head teacher to achieve a certificate for that mile post.

Mrs O'Brien's Maths Blog

Our Maths lead Mrs O'Brien was asked to be a guest blogger for Herts for Learning.  This is the first time a teacher within a school has been asked to do this. Please click on the link to read the blog Maths Blog by Vicki O'Brien.