Maths

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Intent

Our children are continually asked the question, ‘How do you know?’

We aim for our children to be confident and independent mathematicians, willing to tackle any challenge, and resilient learners determined to succeed. Collaborative work is encouraged with opportunities to discuss, explain, and justify their workings.

Maths learning

Maths activities

We want our children not just to know how to do maths, but to understand the concepts behind it. They are given deeper learning opportunities both in maths and across the curriculum, allowing reasoning and problem solving, making connections between topics and concepts. Learning builds on what has been mastered, fostering confidence and independence.

Implementation

In Early Years, developing a strong grounding in number is essential so that all children develop the necessary building blocks to excel mathematically. Children should be able to count confidently, develop a deep understanding of the numbers to 10, the relationships between them and the patterns within those numbers.

By providing frequent and varied opportunities to build and apply this understanding – such as using manipulatives, including small pebbles and tens frames for organising counting – children will develop a secure base of knowledge and vocabulary from which mastery of mathematics is built. In addition, we offer rich opportunities for children to develop their spatial reasoning skills across all areas of mathematics including shape, space and measures. It is important that children develop positive attitudes and interests in mathematics, look for patterns and relationships, spot connections, ‘have a go’, talk to adults and peers about what they notice and not be afraid to make mistakes.

Little Big Maths is a systematic and empathetic approach to supporting children in becoming numerate. It is a programme used in Early Years that develops early maths skills preparing children for the transition into Year 1 where they will embark upon their Big Maths journey.

Big Maths is a numeracy programme that was introduced at St John’s in September 2011. It has had a huge impact, helping our children to become even more numerate and exceed in their mathematical achievement. Big Maths provides children with a fun and lively experience as they learn with jingles, songs, games and the famous Big Maths characters.

Children work through steps known as ‘Progress Drives’ where they follow a natural sequence of progression e.g. to know double 60 they need to first know double 6. Each step is always very small, but essential. This helps to boost confidence as all children can see that the next step along the progress drive is always easy and achievable avoiding cognitive overload. These Progress Drives allow for continuity and consistency across the whole school as all teachers are using the same steps of progression.

The lessons involve lots of repetition, revisiting and reinforcement to ensure solid knowledge of the basic maths skills, constantly nudging children up the Progress Drives and committing their learning to long-term memory. A range of resources and manipulatives are used to aid the children’s learning following the concrete, pictorial and abstract journey.

Big Maths

Visitors from across the UK and abroad come to see Big Maths in action. St John’s is an official partner school with Andrell Education. Characters in the programme help children remember concepts consistently.

Daily Maths Lesson

Each lesson begins with a CLIC session:

Counting: Counting forwards/backwards, decimals, fractions, prime/square numbers. Example: ‘How do you know 35 is the next number?’
Learn Its: Recalling basic number facts across operations. Example: ‘How do you know 3 x 70 = 210?’
It’s Nothing New: Applying learned concepts to new situations. Example: ‘How do you know ½ m + ¼ m = 75cm?’
Calculation: Applying facts from CLIC to addition, subtraction, multiplication, division with reasoning. Example: ‘Complete 3?5 + 2?6 = ?0? How do you know?’
Wider Maths: Geometry, measures, statistics, fractions, often with practical, real-life experiences.
Problem Solving/Reasoning: Whole-class, group, and independent tasks. Strategies include Numberless problems and scaffolded planning sheets.

Big Maths Assessment

Assessment tracks knowledge and understanding through Progress Drives and weekly tests:

CLIC Test: 10 number questions covering operations, doubling/halving, decimals, etc.
SAFE Challenge: 10 questions on Shape, Amounts, Fractions, Exploring data.
Big Maths Beat That: Timed test based on weekly Learn Its. Children aim to beat their previous score.

Winning with Numbers

For our children, the school day starts with a 20-minute Winning with Numbers session, improving fluency and confidence in number. Each week, pupils focus on a single “Win”, this is co-taught by 'Teacher Ben' who appears in the videos and the class teacher. Sessions are fun and interactive supporting and deepening children's learning in small achievable step...“and if you can do that, then you really are winning with numbers!”

Impact

Children become fluent in mathematics, reasoning independently and justifying answers. They develop a positive attitude toward maths, ready to be challenged, confident in their ability to succeed.

Maths learning

Giving Maths a Purpose

We link maths to real-life situations, preparing children for the wider world. Mathematics is critical to science, technology, engineering, and employment. Our curriculum provides aspirational foundations to understand and appreciate mathematics.

Our Year 6 Enterprise Project

Year 6 children participate in ‘Make a Fiver Flourish’, applying their mathematical knowledge to a real-world challenge. Promotional videos and photos showcase their entrepreneurial efforts.

Number Day

Number Day 2023 included games, puzzles, quizzes, number hunts, Forest School, and PE activities. Older children helped younger learners, developing a love of number and raising nearly £200 for the NSPCC.

St John's CE Primary School