MATHEMATICS

Our intent: a bespoke and progressive curriculum, that is thoughtfully sequenced to enable all children to build and deepen their knowledge, develop strong skills, and engage in exceptional curriculum experiences.

Mathematics is an essential and exciting part of our curriculum. Through daily maths teaching we work hard to ensure children become confident mathematicians, with the necessary skills to tackle maths in daily life.

We teach through progressive objectives, which challenge and support all learners in all areas of the maths curriculum including Number and Place Value; Addition and Subtraction; Multiplication and Division; Fractions; Shape; Position, Direction and Movement; Measurement and Statistics.

Alongside the maths curriculum strands, we have a separate arithmetic session each week to allow children a depth of focus on key calculation skills and promote the learning of times tables.
We encourage cross curricular opportunities wherever possible, so that key concepts are reinforced and consolidated in real life contexts.

Preston Hedge’s Trust Calculation Policy
Maths objectives by strand. Year One – Three
Maths Objectives Strands. Year Four – Six

Early Maths

We believe a strong foundation in mathematical concepts is essential for building children’s confidence and problem-solving skills. From Early Years, we nurture this understanding, supporting pupils to develop and deepen their mathematical knowledge as they progress through school. This strong foundation provides children with the necessary skills and confidence to excel in mathematics, and succeed in their future learning.

Whilst children are in Reception their maths sessions alternate weekly between a number focus and a shape focus. This ensures that, over a fortnightly period, children can immerse and develop through the EYFS mathematics curriculum.

We understand the importance of practical application – especially when children are new to mathematical concepts – and ensure our sessions are well resourced to enable this.
Children engage in highly interactive, whole-class and small group, adult-led maths sessions, complemented by a range of adult-led maths based activities.

Reception children are encouraged to seek out learning opportunities, and maths is integrated into indoor and outdoor provision; from a maths area, full of counters (often natural ones found on our Wild Walks); to coins, numbers and shapes children can access whenever they choose; to measuring implements in the construction area; and role play areas full of real life maths.
Our children are well prepared to move on to more challenging concepts as they progress into Year 1 and beyond.

Year 1 – 6

We have a consistent approach to our maths lessons that provides clear structures for our children. Maths is taught daily, and all lessons start with a focused mental maths objective, followed by a main strand objective and a linked, progressive challenge objective.

Each objective has an appropriate success criteria to scaffold and support the children’s learning.

Maths sessions are highly interactive, with a progressively challenging pitch, and appropriate pace that enables pupils to learn, practice and consolidate.

Lessons are based on ongoing assessment, with lots of individual whiteboard work that enables teachers to use responsive teaching, supporting each individual child’s learning journey and moving the class on when they are ready.

Practical resources are readily available in the classroom to support the children, and children demonstrate this understanding in concrete, pictorial and abstract representations, as appropriate to the age and stage of their working.

Times tables are key to speed and accuracy in many mathematical areas, therefore we believe in building these skills as early as possible; our KS2 children enjoy working towards their times table reward certificates.

We recognise the importance of the parental role in securing success and our parent workshops explain the calculation methods used in school, so families can be involved with and support their child’s learning.

Year 4 MTC outcomes – significantly above average.

Our approach creates happy and engaged mathematicians, achieving at national levels, and well above local (Northamptonshire) levels when they move on to secondary education.