Maths
As one of the core National Curriculum subjects we fully embrace the three aims of the curriculum:
- Fluency
- Problem solving
- Reasoning
We provide practical opportunities and use a variety of approaches, including games and visual representations, to ensure that children develop their understanding of key mathematical concepts. We ensure that the curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of each child and children are encouraged to be independent learners; making their own choices about the resources they need and the level of challenge they want to work on. In order to provide challenge we broaden and deepen maths concepts and experiences rather than accelerating children through the year group expectations.
All children across the school take part in weekly ‘Active Maths’ fluency sessions, which include a range of practical games and collaborative activities used to develop motivation and engagement in maths, as well as secure concepts. In addition, children have access to a wide range of resources that are used consistently across the school, including Numicon.
In our Foundation Stage Maths learning includes counting, sorting, matching, seeking patterns, making connections, recognising relationships and working with numbers, shapes, spaces and measures. The children participate in counting songs, stories, rhymes, games and imaginative play so that they enjoy using and experimenting with maths concepts. Through child initiated play, children develop problem solving skills, mathematical vocabulary and their own fascinations.
In Key Stage 1, we aim to develop the foundations of mathematical thinking by use of language, observation and first-hand experiences. As the children gain confidence and understanding in the use of these skills they move on to recording their own work. We follow the Herts for Learning Essentials maths learning steps and progress within these steps is carefully monitored in accordance with year group expectations. In Key Stage 2 emphasis is placed on continuing to apply knowledge to a range of different contexts, including real-life experiences.
