Why?

We want our pupils at St Sidwell's to learn Mathematics, so that they:

• Enjoy learning, practising and exploring maths

• Become fluent in their understanding of number and in their calculation skills

• Develop their reasoning and are able to explain and discuss their mathematical thinking using mathematical language

• Develop resilience, perseverance and independence through problem-solving

• Become successful and confident mathematicians prepared for future learning, and the practical applications of maths in the world around them

What?

Maths is taught daily across the school.

From EYFS through to Year 6, our Maths teaching is underpinned by the White Rose Maths scheme.

In EYFS, we ensure progression in Mathematical skills and knowledge by linking White Rose Maths scheme with Birth to 5 Matters guidance for our Nursery pupils through to the end of Reception.

White Rose Maths builds on a foundation of Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract Learning, and this combination of Concrete and Pictorial references scaffolds and strengthens understanding and is used as a teaching and learning tool from the EYFS to Year 6.

White Rose Maths provides opportunities for children to “master” mathematics and provides opportunities for greater depth but we also supplement these units with other resources that provide further opportunities for our children to practise skills, solve problems and to reason.

In addition, we are aware of the importance of foundation skills in number fluency and calculation. In light of this, our children spend additional time practising and learning number bonds and multiplication tables in order for these to become embedded.

As a school, we are also aware of the importance of language, vocabulary and the application of fluent talk when reasoning in maths. We develop and support our children by providing regular opportunities to reason and by scaffolding language and oracy skills with sentence stems and questioning.

Below are our Calculation and Progression Policies based on the White Rose Maths Scheme. The EYFS document shows our maths progression landmarks across the year and is being developed in further detail with the EYFS team and the Maths Lead going forwards.

Who?

Mr McLeod leads Mathematics in our school, from Nursery to Year 6.

Maths at St Sidwell's School

Calculation Policies and Progression Document

At St Sidwell’s, White Rose Maths provides the skeleton and foundation for our maths teaching from EYFS into Year 6. WRM provides a progression that teachers use in order to ensure that they are in line with the National Curriculum Expectations through Years 1 -6 and that they are able to follow-on from the teaching and sequencing of prior year groups and also prepare children by linking to the teaching of the following year groups

Throughout, there is an emphasis on ensuring mastery, embedded understanding and fluency, before moving onto the next stage in the progression. Each year group will be exposed to and encouraged to develop, their understanding through manipulatives, pictures, abstract representations (CPA) including mathematical symbols and numbers, and a growing mathematical vocabulary.

Children will be taught to how to apply mathematical strategies and how to choose which is best- suited to solve particular problems and they will develop skills in discussion and explanation as they reason about their maths.

The White Rose Calculation Policies support teachers and school staff in ensuring that there is consistency throughout the school. As highlighted above, children should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding in each stage of their curriculum – problem solving, fluency and reasoning- before progressing to the next stage. Teachers support this by using thorough assessments and at St Sidwell’s, we have introduced further diagnostic assessments to support teachers in making accurate judgements to enable them to help children to address any gaps in their mathematical learning by implementing further support and scaffolding.

Children at St Sidwell’s receive opportunities to discuss their maths, to make and explain decisions about how to solve problems efficiently and to do so with accuracy. As stated on our Curriculum page, our aim is for our children to become confident mathematicians who enjoy and embrace the subject and its challenges, make connections between what they know and what they are learning and all the while understanding the importance of maths as a key element of their education. The progression in learning encourages depth and readiness before attempting next stages.

The progression document below needs some updating and we will review this very soon in line with White Rose Maths. However, what it does show, is how the maths teaching builds upon prior knowledge  and generally provides a clear overall picture- with some recent adjustments in the order of teaching,  which is on the whole within year groups.

The government have recently produced "Ready-To Progress" criteria and these, although non-statutory, provide further support to teachers  in determining the basis for solid foundations in mathematical understanding- the 'must-haves' if you will- to really ensure a thorough grounding for students looking to progress.

Home Support

Prior to, and during, the pandemic, individual teachers at St Sidwell’s would produce class videos for strategies in areas that they felt would best-support their class and parents at home. White Rose spotted the need for this, and below is a link to some of their videos, as well as supportive documents, to help you understand how we teach various maths topics and strategies at St Sidwell’s school.

Of course, you can still speak with your class teacher, or Mr McLeod, should you wish any further support or advice with your child's maths.

Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check

In June 2019, a new year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) was trialled across the UK and is statutory for 2020. 

The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether year 4 pupils can fluently recall their multiplication tables. The MTC is focused on the fluent recall of multiplication facts. This is included in the national curriculum (2014) statutory programme of study for mathematics for key stage 1 and key stage 2. The national curriculum states 'by the end of year 4, pupils should have memorised their multiplication tables up to 12 x 12 and show precision and fluency in their work'. 

The MTC will be delivered as an online, on-screen digital assessment and will take each pupil less than 5 minutes to complete. 

 Please see the parent's information guide below for more information and the links to games and other activities to support your child's preparation for the test: