Mathematics 

“Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.”

 (The National Curriculum for Mathematics 2014)

Intent 

We aim for all children to be mathematically confident and have a love of Mathematics. Maths is a journey and long-term goal, achieved through exploration, clarification, practice and application. At each stage of learning, children should be able to demonstrate a deep, conceptual understanding of the topic, and be able to build this up over time.

Implementation 

Long, medium and short term planning that is progressive and cohesive across the year groups, and provides opportunities to revisit. Teachers teach lessons that are designed on the principle of ‘Concrete, Pictorial,  Abstract’, and we provide quality first teaching in line with the teaching standards.

Impact

Children will have:

• Quick recall of facts and procedures
• The flexibility and fluidity to move between different contexts and representations of Mathematics
• The ability to recognise relationships and make connections in Mathematics
• The ability to show how a mathematical concept or skill has been mastered when a child can show it in multiple ways, using the mathematical language to explain their ideas, and can independently apply the concept to new problems in an unfamiliar environment

How is mathematics taught in EYFS?

There is strong subject knowledge in EYFS, where children spend time exploring, acquiring and reinforcing the basic concepts, before being offered challenging opportunities to work beyond the early learning goals. Our intent for mathematics in the early years is that children have a deep understanding of the number system, first to 5 and then to 10 in order to prepare them for Key Stage 1.

We follow the WRM scheme. Children are exposed early on to key concepts such as place value and number bonds, so that they have a good basis from which to work in Key Stage 1- This is done through the mastering number programme. 

 Maths is taught daily as part of a focussed, discrete teaching activity in EYFS. Children are then provided with learning activities based upon this teaching, so that they can refine and develop their knowledge and start to apply their skills. In addition to this, opportunities for mathematics teaching and learning are developed through the routines of the school day, e.g. counting how many children are here today.

Mathematics challenges, as well as opportunities to apply skills and embed knowledge, are carefully planned for through the areas of provision in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments.

See below mathematics progression throughout school. 

Mathematics in action...