Maths
News and Events
- To take part in the next Olympic Times Table Challenge, please sign up with your class teacher.
- The Infants are taking part in the Mastering Number programme. This is a major new initiative from the NCETM and Maths Hubs. It is aimed at strengthening the understanding of number, and fluency with number facts, among children in the first three years of school.
- Infant classes have a daily short ‘number sense’ session. Over the course of the year, the children will use a range of materials and representations, including a small abacus-like piece of equipment called a Rekenrek.
Maths at Burpham
We aim to ensure that all children:
- become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that they have conceptual understanding and are able to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately to problems
- reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
- can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.
Mastery in Mathematics
Mastering maths means acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject that will enable pupils to move on to more advanced material later on. This is something that we want all our pupils to acquire and continue acquiring throughout their school lives, and beyond. At Burpham we have adopted some of the fundamental principles behind the mastery approach to the teaching and learning of mathematics:
- The belief that all pupils can achieve
- Keeping the class working together so that all can access and master mathematics – using support and challenge as necessary
- Development of deep mathematical understanding
- Development of both factual/procedural and conceptual fluency
- Spending longer on key topics, providing time to go deeper and embed learning.
- Objects and pictures used to demonstrate and visualise abstract ideas, alongside numbers and symbols.
Please click on the following link for further information about this mastery approach: A Mastery Approach to Teaching and Learning Mathematics
Maths Curriculum Overview
Key Stage 1
The principal focus of mathematics teaching in Key Stage 1 is to ensure that children develop confidence and mental fluency with whole numbers, counting and place value. This involves working with numerals, words and the four operations, including with practical resources (e.g. concrete objects and measuring tools).
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3-4)
The principal focus of mathematics teaching in lower Key Stage 2 is to ensure that children become increasingly fluent with whole numbers and the four operations, including number facts and the concept of place value. This should ensure that children develop efficient written and mental methods and perform calculations accurately with increasingly large whole numbers.
At this stage, children should develop their ability to solve a range of problems, including with simple fractions and decimal place value.
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5-6)
The principal focus of mathematics teaching in upper Key Stage 2 is to ensure that children extend their understanding of the number system and place value to include larger integers. This should develop the connections that children make between multiplication and division with fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio.
At this stage, children should develop their ability to solve a wider range of problems, including increasingly complex properties of numbers and arithmetic, and problems demanding efficient written and mental methods of calculation. With this foundation in arithmetic, children are introduced to the language of algebra as a means for solving a variety of problems.
By the end of Year 6, children should be fluent in written methods for all four operations, including long multiplication and division, and in working with fractions, decimals and percentages.
Supporting your child with Maths
Times Tables
What are the expectations for learning times tables? How can I help my child in a fun way? Click here for some tips and advice, along with suggested activities, to help answer these questions.
Useful Websites
Here is a list of fantastic and high quality websites for children to use while practising their Maths skills:
- TT Rockstars - https://ttrockstars.com/
- White Rose - https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/
- NRICH - https://nrich.maths.org/
- iSeeMaths activities - http://www.iseemaths.com/home-lessons/
- Topmarks - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/
- BBC Bitesize (KS1) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
- Oxford Owl (KS1) - https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/kids-activities/fun-maths-games-and-activities
- ICT games - www.ictgames.com
Policies
Maths Policy
Click here to view the Maths policy.
Calculation Policy
Click here to take a look at how we teach the written methods for all four operations and the progression within each. We strongly recommend that when supporting at home, you use this guide to ensure your child is receiving the same teaching at home and at school. This will avoid any confusion, leading to a much better understanding for your child.