Maths Vision Statement
Our Maths Vision Statement
‘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.’ National Curriculum 2014
At Hook Infant School, we teach a mastery approach to learning mathematics to ensure every child can achieve excellence in their fluency, understanding and knowledge. Teaching for mastery means children are able to know and understand mathematical concepts. It allows children to have a deep understanding of the subject through a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach and encourages them to make links in their knowledge to apply it to different concepts and problems. Therefore, children have a confident grasp of what they are learning and do not just remember to repeat routines without the ability to understand mathematical structures in order to make connections. To achieve this, we have created a curriculum in KS1 using the National Curriculum 2014 based around the Hampshire’s ‘I can…’ Learning Journeys, NCETM Teaching for Mastery materials, The White Rose resources, as well as drawing upon other useful aids such as Nrich tasks and I see reasoning questions. In the Early Years Foundation, we are following The White Rose documentation to deepen children’s knowledge and understanding, and this is in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. Our learning journeys are aimed to build upon prior learning by breaking understanding into simple steps using models and images, practical resources, promoting mathematical vocabulary and solving problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine questions. To improve mathematical fluency within our curriculum, EYFS and KS1 are following the NCETM mastering number programme which aims to strengthen the understanding of number and fluency with number facts, and develop a mathematical way of thinking for all children. We expect most children to move through the curriculum at broadly the same pace, with appropriate challenges at each stage encouraging problem solving and reasoning for all children. Those children that grasp mathematical concepts quickly will be given rich problems to extend their knowledge and understanding and will be encouraged to ‘Dive Deeper’ into mathematical concepts with more sophisticated reasoning. Children who are not sufficiently confident with early concepts of mathematics will be given additional practise and support to plug the gaps in their understanding before moving on.
At Hook Infant School we want all children to be fluent in mathematics and feel confident to solve problems. Our aims:
- To foster positive attitudes, fascination and excitement of discovery through the teaching and learning of mathematical concepts
- To deepen the understanding of all children by exploring topics further in greater depth
- To ensure pupils become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, developing conceptual knowledge through a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach to learning mathematical concepts with opportunities to make rich connections across mathematical ideas
- To secure children’s knowledge and accuracy when recalling number facts
- To ensure that pupils can reason mathematically by using accurate mathematical vocabulary to explain or justify their thinking in order to communicate their understanding
- To help children apply the mathematical skills and attitudes necessary to solve a variety of problems, not only in mathematics, but also in other subjects, in their future learning and in everyday life situations