We have a Mastery approach to Maths which is underpinned by the Five Big Ideas, all informed by research evidence and classroom experience. We are part of the Maths Hub programme to embed and sustain a Teaching for Mastery approach across the whole school.
Throughout the school we use Power Maths as a basis of our maths curriculum. This is an exciting class mastery approach, which has been recommended by the DfE. At the heart of this programme is the idea that all children can achieve and be successful mathematicians with the right growth mindset.
In EYFS, teaching is delivered in small groups and follow-up activities take place through continuous provision. This learning is carefully assessed by teachers and recorded in a class floor book.
In KS1 and KS2 children are taught through whole class teaching. Every lesson is clearly structured to avoid cognitive overload. Children are encouraged to solve problems each day through the use of concrete resources, pictorial representations and abstract thinking. We use maths journaling alongside our Power Maths workbooks to support the development of reasoning skills and to offer more opening ended problem-solving opportunities.
The expectation is that children will achieve mastery of their year group objectives. This includes being able to solve problems flexibly and independently, not just completing arithmetic calculations. Pupils who grasp concepts rapidly are consistently challenged through “Stretch and Twist” activities which make connections across mathematical ideas to develop competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems.
We use pre-teaching and adaptive teaching practices to ensure we engineer success for all children and use NCTEM resources to support with this. We firmly believe in “keeping up not catching up”.
We recognise the importance of Mathematical fluency. In EYFS and KS1 have four ‘Mastering Number’ sessions each week in addition to their Power Maths lessons. This is a nationwide project from the National for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) which aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim is that all children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number.
Our ambition is that all WDCE children can not only calculate efficiently, but will have a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about patterns and mathematical problem-solving and are resilient when faced with challenges.
Our curriculum overview:
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
| Reception | Numbers to 5 Comparing groups within 5 Shape |
Change within 5 Number bonds within 5 Spatial Awareness |
Numbers to 10 Comparing numbers within 10 Addition to 10 |
Measure Number bonds to 10 Subtraction Exploring Patterns |
Counting on and counting back Numbers to 20 Numerical patterns |
Shape Measure Sorting Time |
| Year 1 | Number and Place Value within 10 Addition / Subtraction within 10 |
Addition / Subtraction within 10 2D and 3D Shape |
Place Value within 20 Addition / Subtraction within 20 |
Place value within 50 Length and height Weight and volume |
Multiplication and division, fractions, position and direction |
Place Value within 100, measurement- time and money |
| Year 2 | Place value to 100 Addition and subtraction |
Addition & subtraction Geometry- Properties of Shape |
Measurement- Money Multiplication and division |
Multiplication and division Measurement- Mass, capacity and temperature |
Statistics Fractions Geometry- position and direction |
Measurement, time. Addition and subtraction. problem solving and efficient methods |
| Year 3 | Place value to 1000 Addition and subtraction |
Addition and subtraction Multiplication and division |
Multiplication and division Measurement- length and perimeter |
Fractions Mass Capacity |
Fractions Money |
Time |
| Year 4 | Place value Addition and subtraction |
Geometry- Area Multiplication and division |
Multiplication and division Measurement- length and perimeter |
Fractions Decimals |
Decimals Money Time |
Geometry- angles and 2D shapes |
| Year 5 | Place value, addition and subtraction multiplication and division |
Multiplication and division Fractions (including decimals and percentages) |
Multiplication and division Fractions (including decimals and percentages) |
Measurement- perimeter and area Statistics- graphs and tables |
Geometry- Properties of shape, position and direction Fractions (including decimals and percentages) |
Place value- negative numbers Measurement- converting units Measurement- volume and capacity |
| Year 6 | Place Value Four Operations |
Fractions Measurement- metric and imperial |
Ratio and proportion Algebra Decimals and Percentages |
Measurement- perimeter, area and volume |
Statistics Geometry- properties of shape, position and direction |
Number- addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problem solving |
