Maths
Intent
At Woodlands, we provide a mastery curriculum in maths, where children can build on their prior learning. It helps them develop the relevant knowledge and skills which provide the foundation for secondary mathematics learning. Our curriculum is intended to encourage mathematical curiosity and fluency within all pupils, including those with SEND and vulnerable children. All learners are exposed to a wide range of mathematical thinking and are supported using Bruner’s three modes of representation, having access to concrete resources, pictorial representations and abstract concepts.
We incorporate sustained levels of challenge through varied and high-quality activities, with a focus on fluency, reasoning and problem-solving. Pupils are required to explore mathematics in depth, using mathematical vocabulary to reason and explain their workings. The mastery curriculum allows for opportunities to rehearse and secure mathematical fluency, and develops confidence in mathematics.
The scheme of work outlines units, which are broken down into manageable chunks of knowledge and skills, and are then revisited throughout the units. The end points for each unit are clearly identified in the long term plan.
Implementation
Our maths curriculum is implemented through high-quality teaching using the White Rose scheme from EYFS to Year 6. This delivers appropriately challenging work for all individuals, including those with SEND and vulnerable children, which we supplement as appropriate to support, scaffold and challenge our children. To develop fluency in number facts, we use Fluency Bee in KS1, Number Sense in LKS2 and in UKS2 we use targeted deliberate practice. Weekly deliberate practice lessons are used effectively in Lower School to develop arithmetic skills.
To support our learning in class, we have a range of mathematical resources in classrooms including Numicon, Base10, counters, place value counters and number lines. The key content, including vocabulary, is displayed on working walls within classrooms to further support learning.
Mathematical content is taught clearly and understanding is checked systematically through formative assessment, allowing misconceptions to be addressed. Live marking provides pupils with timely feedback, to ensure their knowledge and understanding is continuously developed.
We use the end of unit White Rose Maths tests and the results are put into Smartgrade, which allows teachers to carry out question level analysis and identify gaps in learning. This summative assessment and other observations are used to inform our discussions in termly Pupil Progress Meetings and to identify any support needed.
Teaching is designed to revisit and retrieve learning from previous topics and learning in previous years. In Key Stage 2, this is done through White Rose Math’s Flashback 4. This allows our children to integrate their knowledge into new, larger concepts. In Key Stage 1, we use Fluency Bee to revisit previous learning.
As teachers at Woodlands, we are continually striving to improve and frequently share ideas, reflecting on activities and lessons that have been particularly effective. We also regularly take part in training opportunities, networking events and staff meetings.
Impact
At Woodlands, our curriculum ensures all pupils, from all backgrounds and starting points, have equal opportunities to reason mathematically, build on their fluency and solve problems accurately. Our children will see the purpose of mathematics in their later learning and understand the relevance of mathematics in the modern world. As a result of a mastery approach, children will build upon their skills year on year and can apply their skills to create solutions to problems.
Our approach encourages collaborative learning and the articulation of ideas, including the use of sentence stems to support oracy. The teaching of mathematics across the school is regularly monitored and pupil progress is closely tracked to ensure the curriculum is implemented as planned.
Children at Woodlands, make good progress over time in mathematics, with the majority of children approach problem solving enthusiastically, demonstrating resilience and confidence during lessons.