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Maths

Intent

At Shawley, we recognise and embrace that mathematics is an important and essential part of everyday life. The four key operations are used in a wide range of tasks in all walks of life. We provide children with a high-quality education through a mastery approach to ensure children have not only a deep understanding but  are confident mathematicians and are:

  • Fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics
  • Can reason mathematically
  • Can solve problems by applying their mathematics.
  • Teaching and learning of mathematics across the LEO schools will be developed as a trust. 

Implementation

At Shawley our mathematics curriculum is structured around the Maths- No Problem! scheme. This scheme is designed to support teachers in delivering a challenging but supportive maths curriculum through a maths mastery approach. Teachers adapt planning within their year groups to ensure:

  • Precise questioning to test conceptual and procedural knowledge.
  • Development of peer discussion to deepen understanding.
  • Manipulatives are used effectively to support and challenge learners to ensure a deep understanding.
  • Extension challenges to extend learners.  
  • Learning environment encourages learners to be more independent learners.
  • Take part in National Maths Week events.
  • Teachers are encouraged to use the NCETM slides to support the prioritisation of the maths curriculum before each unit of learning due to the pandemic.  
  • Maths- No Problem! have provided teachers with a key on their website to highlight which content is key and which can be combined or integrated in other areas of learning. 
  • Year 4 multiplication check. 
  • Pupil discussions about their learning. 
  • End of topic reviews for each topic covered and a mid-year/end of year revision before moving onto the next book.
  • Doodle as part of homework and challenges to consolidate learning.
  • Times Table Rockstars to help prepare for the multiplication check and to allow the children to keep learning their times tables.

In Reception, (Early Years Foundation Stage), we relate the mathematical aspects of the children's work to the Development Matters statements and the Early Learning Goals (ELG), as set out in the EYFS profile document. Maths development involves providing children with opportunities to practise and improve their skills in counting numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems, and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures. The profile for Mathematics areas of learning are Number (ELG 11) and shape, space and measures (ELG 12). We continually observe and assess children against these areas using their age-related objectives, and plan the next steps in their mathematical development through a topic-based curriculum. 

There are opportunities for children to encounter Maths throughout Reception (both inside and outside) – through both planned activities and the self-selection of easily accessible quality maths resources. Whenever possible children’s interests are used to support delivering the mathematics curriculum. All activities child initiated or adult initiated are recorded on SeeSaw. Towards the end of Reception, teachers aim to draw the elements of a daily mathematics lesson together so that by the time children move to Year 1 they are familiar with a structured lesson/activity.

Impact

The mathematics curriculum is based upon ‘Maths- No Problem!’ resources which are fully supported by the Department for Education as they meet the requirements of the new curriculum. The Maths-No Problem! primary school series has been created specifically for children living in the UK and is fully aligned to the 2014 curriculum. It provides all the elements that teachers need to teach Maths mastery with confidence and encourages children to talk using mathematical language. Maths- No Problem! has been updated in line with lockdown and to support the learning that the children may have missed. We measure our impact of our curriculum through the following methods: 

  • A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes; 
  • Termly assessment in Key Stage 1 and 2 from Rising Stars, termly standardised maths tests which enable school to track progress, predict future performance and benchmark against national averages; 
  • Teacher in lessons assessment and marking of work.  (Teacher assessment during lessons and through the marking of work).
  • Year group moderation, phase moderation, LEO year group moderations
  • Book scans and learning walks

 

Maths Teaching Overview

At Shawley, we teach maths through the ‘Maths No Problem! – Singapore Maths’ teaching approach.  This develops children’s mathematical fluency without the need for rote learning.  Children learn to think mathematically and link concepts providing explanations and reasons for their answers.  Maths No Problem! teaches learners mental strategies to solve problems through the use of manipulatives (equipment) to aid learning and develop mathematical understanding at a greater depth through regular problem solving challenges in each lesson. 
 
All lessons follow the five part lesson structure. On each table, there is a box which contains manipulatives. Children are encouraged to make their own choices from the box and teachers encourage children to make the most efficient choice, without explicitly telling them. Each child has their own ‘Workbook’ (2 per year group) and a Maths Journal. In the Maths Journal, children record their findings from the ‘In Focus’ task; write about methods; complete ‘Challenge’ tasks; evaluate and reflect on lessons; complete the ‘Guided Practice’ (when needed) and demonstrate their understanding at the start of a chapter/lesson.
 
For more information please visit the Maths No Problem website.
 

 

The 144 Club

The 144 Club is a very special club! To be part of the club children have to prove they know their times tables. Children will be given the chance, once a week, to complete a times tables test. Children in Years 4 to 6 have to answer 144 questions correctly in less than five minutes.
 
Once in the club, children have to take a test again, every half term, to retain their place. The aim is that they beat their own personal best each time. If a child has not yet made it into the club, their aim is to beat their own personal best each week.
Here are the 144 Club tests (and answers) for children if would like to practice at home:
 
  • Look for numbers everywhere – on signs, number plates, front doors
  • Play games which include counting or number recognition e.g. snakes and ladders, snap, ludo
  • Practise counting in steps of 2, 5 and 10
  • Looking at the time – concentrating on o’clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to
  • Letting your child handle money and work out how much things cost, how much change is needed, different ways of making the same amount e.g. 10p = 1x10p, 2x5ps, 5x2ps, 10x1ps
  • Talk about different measurements and quantities e.g. amount of milk in milk bottle, drink in a carton or can, weight of pasta in a bag
  • Get children involved in cooking and weighing out different ingredients e.g. flour or water
  • Practise times tables (remember little and often)
 

Some Useful Maths Websites