Maths
At Snodland CEP, we deliver a programme of study that gives our children a deep and conceptual understanding of mathematics. Our aim is to ensure that they progress through the curriculum at a pace that not only challenges them but also ensures they have consolidated and deepened their understanding. We want every child to develop a sense of curiosity and love of maths; therefore, we place considerable emphasis on creating opportunities for children to actively engage with the concepts being taught.
With the use of the Ark Curriculum Plus Maths Mastery scheme, we pride ourselves on developing a strong teaching for mastery approach. This scheme has been shown by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to give pupils on average two months’ additional progress after one year on the programme. Our expectation is that all our children will gain a deep understanding of what is being taught, meaning they grasp concepts quicker and are given opportunities to deepen their knowledge, improving their reasoning skills – this enables them to think and talk like mathematicians!
All of our Maths lessons, from EYFS to Year 6, follow the same explicit structure enabling children to believe that they can achieve in Maths.
1. Do Now - Children practice something that will help them later in the lesson or build fluency in a key skill
2. Vocabulary Teaching – The teacher explicitly introduces new vocabulary, or revisits previously taught vocabulary, to ensure that children are fully confident in mathematical oracy.
3. New Learning – The teacher models a new concept whilst children use concrete manipulatives to support them
4. Talk Task – Children use mathematical terms and symbols to explore problem solving questions, addressing misconceptions using high quality mathematical language
5. Develop Learning – Referring to previously learnt models/ representations/ skills/ concepts, children develop their understanding of the new concept
6. Independent Task – All children are engaged in learning the same mathematical concept or skill, with an appropriate amount of scaffolding, completing fluency, reasoning and problem solving tasks
7. Plenary – Children reflect on their learning, addressing any misconceptions and deepening their understanding
We have a consistent approach to the teaching of written calculations to establish continuity and progression throughout the school. This is to ensure that by the end of Year 6, all children who are considered ‘Secondary Ready’ will be secure with a compact standard written method for each operation.
Calculation and arithmetic skills are taught and practised every week, with children completing weekly calculation papers to develop fluency, expose them to a range of arithmetic questions and build confidence and accuracy when applying their skills.
Rapid Response interventions ensure those who experience difficulties in the lesson, or display misconceptions, are identified quickly and receive immediate support and quick intervention.
Our children also take part in daily Number Sense sessions. Number Sense is a structured programme that develops children’s understanding and fluency in number from Early Years through KS2. It brings together Early Years Number Sense, Number Facts Fluency and Times Tables Fluency, building deep understanding of quantity, number relationships, addition and subtraction facts, and multiplication and division facts so that every child develops confident, automatic recall.
The children also have the opportunity to access online games using their own personal log in - select the link below to take you to the home page for each game:
Times Tables Rockstars (Mr Smith runs competitions in school to see which class are the highest scoring!)
SATs Companion (Year 6 only)