Maths - Teaching & Learning

Curriculum Intent

At Dundonald Primary School we believe all children should enjoy and feel confident in Mathematics, gaining the necessary skills for everyday life. We inspire children to become confident, curious and collaborative mathematicians. Children achieve a high standard in numeracy and gain a secure foundation of mathematical knowledge, skills and concepts. Through small steps, our pupils develop their fluency, reasoning and problem-solving with an ability to apply these skills in real-life contexts. Children use a variety of concrete, pictorial and abstract representations and key mathematical vocabulary to demonstrate their understanding. We provide a stimulating Mathematics curriculum where children are challenged to take risks and develop a growth mindset.

Curriculum Implementation

At Dundonald we have chosen to teach Mathematics through daily lessons that equip children with the skills they need to understand and solve a range of problems in different mathematical contexts. Lessons inspire a real interest in the subject and encourage true depth of understanding of its applications in the wider world.

In line with the National Curriculum and current best practice, the children are taught to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics (including calculation strategies); reason mathematically using mathematical language and apply their knowledge and understanding to problem solving tasks.

Mathematics lessons at Dundonald use the 'Teaching for Mastery' approach which allows children to work practically using various resources, models and concepts. Our mathematical teaching across the school has the CPA approach at its core; Concrete (physical objects), Pictorial (diagrams and images) and Abstract (mathematical representations using signs and symbols) to support pupils in mastering the fundamental mathematical concepts.

Each lesson includes three key elements:

Fluency - a chance for children to practise the key number number facts such as numbr bonds and times tables.

Reasoning - regular discussions about what they are learning using precise mathematical vocabulary, exploring key concepts and making explicit connections to prior learning.

Problem Solving - lessons are embedded with opportunities to deepen knowledge amd further improve reasoning skills within the objectives of their year group and a wider real life context. Pupils are encouraged to use a variety of strategies to find different solutions to solve problems.

A mastery approach is used across the school, using White Rose Maths, in line with key National Curriculum objectives:

In EYFS : number and numerical patterns

In Key Stage 1: number, statistics, geometry and measurement

In Key Stage 2: number, statistics, geometry, ration & proportion and algebra in Year 6.

We do this by:

Ensuring maths is accessible for all; we have high expectations and encourage a positive Growth Mindset towards maths in all pupils and carefully scaffold learning so everyone can make progress.

Embedding a Maths Mastery approach throughout the school using the five big ideas; coherence, representation and structure, mathematical thinking, fluency and variation.

Creating deep and sustainable learning; each lesson is designed with careful small steps, questions and tasks where pupils develop their fluency, reasoning and problem solving.

Providing opportunities for children to reason about a concept and make connections; pupils are encouraged to make connections and spot patterns between different concepts.

Challenging pupils through diving deeper; rather than movong onto next year'c oncepts, teachers set tasks to deepen knowledge and improve reasoning skills within the objectives of their year group.

Throughout the year, we organise a range of different activities and themed events for the children, including school-wide competitions and competitions within the borough. These activities allow children to apply their mathematical skills whilst also contributing to their personal and social develeopment.