The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics – Paul Halmos
Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas. – Albert Einstein
Intent
At Howletch Lane Primary School, we believe mathematics is essential to everyday life and a skill which we use all of the time. A high-quality mathematics education is vital for developing confident and resilient learners and provides a foundation for understanding the world. We intend to deliver a well-planned curriculum that allows each child to explore maths in a creative and engaging way. Children will make connections and develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills through high quality teaching and learning opportunities, in line with the expectations of the National Curriculum 2014.
At Howletch Lane, we recognise that a whole-school systematic approach to delivering quality maths is fundamental to our success. Through adopting a mastery curriculum, alongside the aims of the National Curriculum, children progressively build an understanding of key concepts. Teaching our curriculum in blocks allows each child to build on secure foundations, remember more and explore maths in a creative and engaging way. We ensure each year we build on the previous year’s learning and consider the individual journey of each child to ensure they are ready for their next steps.
Implementation
At Howletch Lane, we are committed to developing confident mathematicians who are proficient in all areas of the Primary Maths curriculum. As a school, we are working with the NCETM’s Maths Hub to implement a mastery approach to teaching. Mastering maths means that children acquire a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. A whole class teaching approach is adopted; keeping the class working together, with no acceleration to next academic year’s content. This is to avoid superficial, surface learning and foster a deep, secure understanding of all the concepts taught. We follow the National Curriculum and use NCETM materials as a guide to support teachers with their teaching, planning and assessment.
Our partnership with the Archimedes NE Maths Hub, coordinated by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), provides continuous professional development and the opportunity to develop our practice and pedagogy in order to benefit all learners.
Impact
Attainment in maths is measured using the statutory assessments at the end of Key Stage One and Two and Year Four Times Table Check. We also track children using the school’s tracking/assessment system, Insight and report where each child is in relation to age related expectations. These teacher judgements are validated through the NCETM assessment questions pre and post unit.
At Howletch Lane, we believe that a mathematical skill or concept has been mastered when a child can show it in multiple ways and independently apply the concept to new problems in unfamiliar situations. In addition to this, children can demonstrate quick and accurate recall of facts and procedures, including times tables. Most importantly, we aim to create engaged, resilient and enthusiastic mathematicians. Learners who understand the importance of maths and its impact on their future lives.
Early Years
In Nursery and Reception, our teaching and environment is set up to ensure that all children develop firm mathematical foundations in a way that is fun and engaging, encouraging problem solving and investigation. Indoor and outdoor continuous provision provides the opportunity for children to learn through play and exploration. We use the Early Year Foundation Stage Framework and the six areas of early mathematical learning as a basis for our lessons and maths provision. They collectively provide a platform for everything children will encounter as they progress through their maths learning at Howletch Lane and beyond:
- Cardinality and counting
- Comparison
- Composition
- Pattern
- Shape and space
- Measures
In Reception, children have a discrete daily maths lesson and an additional Maths Meeting.
Key Stage One and Key Stage Two
In Key Stage One and Key Stage Two, the curriculum focuses on four areas: number, measurement, geometry and statistics across the year. Within these areas, concepts are taught slowly and in greater depth, through whole class teaching, to ensure the learning is secure and sustainable. We believe in exposing the children to multiple representations of a concept, using concrete, pictorial and abstract examples simultaneously to support understanding. The learning needs of every child are addressed through skilful questioning and appropriate, immediate intervention – this provides the necessary scaffolding or challenge. Included in every lesson are fluency, reasoning and problem-solving tasks, giving the children the opportunity to explore the concept being taught extensively before moving on to the next. Great importance is placed on mathematical talk and accurate use of vocabulary and terminology. As a result, lessons include regular opportunities for the children to discuss their understanding and explain their thinking, both with the adults and their peers.
At Howletch Lane, children take part in additional maths sessions, outside of their daily maths lesson, to embed prior learning and reinforce procedural fluency and conceptual understanding.
In Key Stage 2, children take part in an additional fluency session, often focussing on Times Tables in Years 3 and 4, to build knowledge and quick recall of multiplication and division facts. Sessions may include the use of interactive online games e.g. Times Table Rock Stars. Through ongoing assessments, teachers are able to address gaps in learning during these sessions thus ensuring children have a secure understanding to access the next steps in their learning.
How to support mathematics learning at home
Learning Platforms
To ensure children at Howletch Lane are fluent in mathematics, quick and accurate recall of facts is paramount. Each week, we expect pupils to rehearse these facts at home by accessing online maths programmes.
We have access to both NumBots and Times Tables Rock Stars which can be accessed via logins provided by the class teacher.
NumBots
NumBots is a self-paced educational platform with an interactive, robot immersed game. 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.
Times Table Rock Stars
Times Table Rock Stars is a fun and challenging programme designed to help pupils master the times tables. It is a carefully sequenced programme of daily times table practice. To be a Times Table Rock Star you need to answer any multiplication fact up to 12×12 in less than 3 seconds!
Supporting Documents
In this section of the website, you will find information about our approach to teaching Maths at Howletch Lane Primary School.
| Maths Long Term Plan Documents | Download |
| Year 6 LTP | Download |
| Year 5 LTP | Download |
| Year 4 LTP | Download |
| Year 3 LTP | Download |
| Year 2 LTP | Download |
| Year 1 LTP | Download |
| Whole School LTP | Download |
