Here at Ringway Primary, we believe that our maths curriculum will nurture a love for maths through a secure knowledge of key skills. We aim to develop confident mathematicians at problem solving and reasoning, while exploring links to the world around us with cross curricular maths.  We aim to develop the children’s problem solving, resilience and reflective skills – skills that are easily transferable across the curriculum.

Maths Intent

Why do we teach this?  Why do we teach it in the way we do?

Mathematics teaches children how to make sense of the world around them through developing their ability to calculate, reason and solve problems.

Mathematics 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, a respect of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

We aim to support children to achieve economic well-being and equip them with a range of computational skills and the ability to solve problems in a variety of contexts.

At Ringway, children are encouraged to make mistakes in a safe and supportive environment. They are supported to discuss these misconceptions with their peers and staff alike. We place oracy at the heart of our learning through shared work and class discussions. Use of appropriate vocabulary is modelled throughout lessons by both staff and children, allowing everyone to ‘talk like a mathematician’. Once a child can articulate their understanding of a concept, they can truly begin to make connections within their learning.

We aim for all pupils to:

* Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, so that they develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.  including the varied and regular practice of increasingly complex problems over time.

* Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry and develop and present a justification, argument or proof using mathematical language.

* Solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions – including unfamiliar contexts and real-life scenarios.

Sequence & structure

 How does the maths curriculum plan set out the sequence and structure of how we’ll teach the knowledge and skills?

We follow the National Curriculum, which sequences and structures the teaching into the year groups. In order to ensure this curriculum is covered in full and in manageable and logical steps. 

Throughout their sessions, children will have the opportunity to achieve these aims:

• Become fluent mathematicians, with varied and frequent practice so that children can develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately. 
• Have the ability to reason mathematically - using their conceptual knowledge to develop mathematical arguments, follow a line of enquiry, justify answers or spot relationships
• Solve problems by applying their maths knowledge to a selection of problems. Including breaking down problems into simpler steps and using our school values of self-belief and perseverance to seek solutions.

Maths Implementation

Teaching and Learning, Content and Sequence

We have adopted the teaching for mastery approach for our maths curriculum. We use a range of materials including from NCETM and White Rose following small steps to help develop a deep, secure understanding of maths. This allows our children to develop their fluency in the fundamentals of maths, improving their conceptual understanding and recall of number facts. They have access to a range of concrete and pictorial representations to deepen their understanding and allow them to make connections.

This approach also allows regular opportunities to reason mathematically, encouraging pupils to talk about maths by explaining their thinking using the correct language and make justifications to show their understanding. There is also a focus on problem solving where children apply their knowledge to a range of real-life contexts making their learning meaningful.

Mastering Number

We have implemented the Mastering Number programme across our school.

• In Reception, mastering number is the main focus of maths lessons relating to number work. There will also be lots of opportunities for children to embed this knowledge throughout continuous provision and routines.
• In Key Stage 1 and Year 3, children complete 4 short sessions per week, alongside their maths lesson, focusing on securing firm foundations in the development of number sense
• In Year 4 and Year 5, children complete 5 short sessions per week, alongside their maths lesson, focusing on developing fluency in multiplication and division facts, and a confidence and flexibility with number.

Maths Impact

What are the outcomes of our curriculum for pupils?

Children at Ringway understand and value the importance of Mathematics, this is evident through pupil voice and monitoring which takes place by the Headteacher and the Maths curriculum leader.

We want children to be confident in making rich connections across mathematical ideas as a result of developing fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated, contextual problems during their time at Ringway. Our pupils will be able to apply their mathematical knowledge across the curriculum and to realise that mathematics has been developed over centuries.  As our pupils progress further in their education, we intend for them to be able to understand the world, have the ability to reason mathematically and to have a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

Through first quality teaching, guidance and effective feedback, children will:

* Clearly explain their reasoning and justify their thought processes.

* Quickly recall facts and procedure.

* Have the flexibility and fluidity to move between different contexts and representations of mathematics.

* Have the ability to recognise relationships and make connections in mathematics.

* Be happy, confident, articulate and autonomous learners with a life-long passion for learning.

* Leave our school at the end of KS2 prepared for the next step in their mathematical education.

Summative assessments takes place at the end of each term (End of Block Assessments and Test Base tests are used and KS1/2 SATs are completed in May) and children’s progress and attainment is discussed with senior leaders in pupil progress meetings.

Formative assessment takes place on a daily basis and teachers adjust planning accordingly to meet the needs of their class.  Teachers use formative assessment to evaluate the learning during a lesson. They may ask questions to check understanding, or scrutinise independent work in order to identify common misconceptions or share thinking. Such assessment allows teachers the flexibility to intervene in a lesson to remind, redirect or reteach pupils as required.

Times Tables and Number Skills

To supplement our learning, children have access to various learning platforms including Times Table Rock Stars and NumBots.

From the 2019/20 academic year onwards, schools in England are required to administer an online multiplication tables check (MTC) to Year 4 pupils. The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will help schools to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided. 

To help them develop these skills, children can log on to TTRS using their username and password.

On Times Table Rock Stars, pupils can practice their tables. They are then able to improve their Rock Speed and climb the Rockstar ranks! The online games reward children with virtual coins for each correct answer, which they enjoy spending on upgrading their personal rock avatar.

NumBots is an online game and playing little and often will significantly improve your child’s recall and understanding of number bonds and addition and subtraction facts. Children can access NumBots using their username and password for TTRS. Children access these both at home and in school.