Maths
Intent
At Rufford Park Primary School, we recognise the importance of mathematics as a vital tool for everyday life. We aim to deliver a balanced, progressive and enjoyable curriculum with a range of cross-curricular links to support the application of both skills and understanding. We want all children to develop a secure knowledge and understanding of concepts so they can experience both success and enjoyment as their knowledge and skills progress throughout their time at primary school and beyond.
Our three principle aims for mathematics are:
- For children to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics
- For all children to have the ability to reason and solve a range of problems
- For all children to make choices about the maths they use and be able to apply with confidence
It is our intent to ensure that all children have access to a high-quality maths curriculum that is both challenging and enjoyable and raise children’s aspirations. Our maths curriculum is carefully planned to enable children to build on their prior knowledge at each stage of their journey through the school. Learning from mistakes, building resilience and encouraging inquisitiveness is at the heart of our maths teaching. We strongly believe that anyone has the aptitude to learn maths, and our curriculum is carefully planned to ensure small steps of progression so that each child has every opportunity to be challenged, to deepen their mathematical learning and to reach their potential.
Implementation
We deliver a broad and balanced mathematical curriculum that follows the White Rose Maths blocks of learning from Reception through to Year 6. This ensures a consistent approach, with each unit of work carefully planned to build on the prior year’s learning. This includes elements of number, calculation, fractions, geometry, measures and statistics. A wide range of resources (White Rose Maths, Classroom Secrets, NCETM, Nrich and Target Your Maths) are used to support the delivery of lessons and there are regular opportunities to use concrete, pictorial and abstract resources to represent mathematical concepts. Basic skills are developed in arithmetic lessons to develop mathematical fluency and there is a focus on the secure knowledge of mathematical vocabulary to broaden and deepen understanding.
Within the lesson, teachers check pupils understanding effectively and address any misconceptions swiftly, either in the lesson or as part of a targeted intervention.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum includes rich opportunities for children to develop a deep understanding in number and numerical patterns. Throughout EYFS, the pupils will have opportunities to build and apply their mathematical understanding both inside and outside the classroom. The areas of provision are designed to extend and embed the children’s understanding of number and pattern.
Formative assessment takes place daily, while termly summative assessment takes place in the form of previous SATS papers (Years 2 & 6) and NFER (Years 3,4 & 5) testing which allows analysis of gaps in learning to be assessed through a question level analysis of results which feed into discussions in termly pupil progress meetings. In addition, White Rose Maths assessments are completed at the end of each mathematical unit to assess understanding on the most recent learning and to identify gaps or misconceptions so that they can be addressed by targeted intervention and support where needed. The combined methods of assessment ensure that we can make appropriate provision for each child to progress.
Impact
Standards in mathematics at Rufford Park Primary School are good. The children make above average progress during their time at school from EYFS – KS2 (3-year average 2017-19 progress data). The pupils leave Rufford Park with the knowledge and skills such that they are able to succeed at the next stage of their education.
The impact of our curriculum also ensures that our pupils:
- know that maths is a vital life skill that they will rely on in many areas of their daily life
- have a positive view of maths and can talk about their learning and make links to other areas of the curriculum
- access engaging lessons where teaching uses a range of resources and representations
Progression Maps
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| National-Curriculum-Progression-Primary.pdf | Download |
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| National Curriculum Mixed Year Group Progression.pdf | Download |
Our Calculation Policy
How do children learn to add, subtract, multiply and divide at Rufford Park Primary School?