Ashford Prep - Maths

Mathematics

SHAPING INQUISITIVE MINDS FOR A FUTURE OF LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES

As a faculty, we seek to provide engaging and thought-provoking lessons that cater for children of all mathematical abilities. We recognise the importance of establishing a secure foundation in mental calculation and the use of concrete materials, teaching in an exciting hands-on way whilst developing deeper thinking and problem-solving skills. We strive for mathematical mastery, igniting curiosity and paving the way for inquisitive thinkers and future leaders.

Mathematics teaches us how to make sense of the world around us through developing a child’s ability to calculate, to reason and to solve problems. It enables children to understand and appreciate relationships and pattern in both number and space in their everyday lives. Through their growing knowledge and understanding, children learn to appreciate the contribution made by many cultures to the development and application of mathematics. Children can experience a sense of achievement and pride as they solve a problem for the first time, discover different solutions and make links between different areas of mathematics. It provides pupils with a deep understanding of the subject through a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach. This ensures pupils fully understand what they are learning.

Subject Overviews and Aims Mathematics

Mathematics teaches us how to make sense of the world around us through developing a child’s ability to calculate, to reason and to solve problems. It enables children to understand and appreciate relationships and pattern in both number and space in their everyday lives. Through their growing knowledge and understanding, children learn to appreciate the contribution made by many cultures to the development and application of mathematics. Children can experience a sense of achievement and pride as they solve a problem for the first time, discover different solutions and make links between different areas of mathematics. It provides pupils with a deep understanding of the subject through a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach. This ensures pupils fully understand what they are learning.

Rationale

Mathematics is important in everyday life. It is integral to all aspects of life and with this in mind we endeavour to ensure that children develop a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards Mathematics that will stay with them.

At Ashford Prep School, we understand the importance of developing critical thinking, problemsolving skills and a strong foundation for future learning. A key element of our ethos is emphasising real-world applications which can make it engaging for pupils, fostering a positive attitude towards Maths. This is achieved through enrichments, Mish-Mash Maths activities and our National Maths Day focus.

We follow the White Rose scheme of learning which aligns with the 2014 National Curriculum. Other schemes of work, including the NCETM reasoning and problem solving are also used within planning.

We recognise the importance of establishing a secure foundation in mental calculation and the use of concrete materials before formal written methods are introduced. We use accurate mathematical vocabulary in our teaching and children are expected to use it in their verbal and written explanations. Children are encouraged to practise their times tables out of school in order to become a rock star/legend/hero; they are presented with a certificate in assembly for recalling their table facts.

We endeavour at all times to set work that is challenging, motivating and encourages the pupils to think about how they learn and to talk about what they have been learning. Marking frequently challenges children to take their learning further and apply the skills they have acquired in a different context.

Teachers plan a good balance of fluency, application and reasoning activities each week, responding to the needs of their class. To provide adequate time for developing mathematics, maths is taught daily and discretely.

Pupils who are not making appropriate progress or could be challenged further will be highlighted in Pupil Progress Meetings and be given some form of intervention. This may be a TA led group out of class, becoming a focus child for the teacher or teaching assistant during maths lessons or being given slightly different work which supports or stretches them.

Aims

We aim to provide the pupils with a mathematics curriculum and high-quality teaching to produce individuals who are numerate, creative, independent, inquisitive, enquiring and confident. We also aim to provide a stimulating well-resourced environment so that pupils can develop their mathematical skills to the full. Our pupils should:

Have a well-developed sense of the place value of a number and where it fits into the number system.

Know by heart number facts such as number bonds, multiplication tables, doubles and halves.

Use what they know by heart to figure out numbers mentally.

Calculate accurately and efficiently, both mentally and in writing and on paper, drawing on a range of calculation strategies.

Recognise when it is appropriate to use rounding to estimate an answer and be able to do so effectively.

Have a well-developed maths vocabulary which aides them in worded problems.

Explain their methods and reasoning, using correct mathematical terms.

Judge whether their answers are reasonable and have strategies for checking them where necessary.

Develop spatial awareness and an understanding of the properties of 2D and 3D shapes.

Curriculum Planning

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Autumn Spring Summer

Place Value

Four Operations

Four Operations

Fractions

Decimals

Converting Units

Percentages  Angles

Multiplication

Position and Direction

Perimeter, Area and Volume Roman Numerals

Decimals Statistics

Christmas themed maths

Year 6

Place Value

Four Operations

End of Term Project

Revision and Recap & Summer Project

Autumn Spring Summer

Fractions/Decimals/Percentages  Recap

Percentages of amounts  Angles

Four Operations  Algebra  Shape

Fractions  Statistics Circle

Measurement

Christmas Themed Maths

Ratio and measurement

Subject Organisation

Time/Money Problems

Revision and Recap & Summer Project

All children at Ashford Prep School have four hours of curriculum maths lessons. On top of this, children will spend a minimum of fifteen minutes of form time dedicated to TT rockstars/times tables in Years 3-6 and Numbots for R-2.

Children in Upper Prep are set for maths groups. This is based according to teacher assessment, pace in lessons. During maths faculty meetings, possible movements of pupils are discussed.

Maths Challenges

Children at Ashford Prep School have the opportunity to sit the Primary Maths Challenge papers in Year 5/6. Most children in Year 6 top will sit the paper, with further opportunities provided to highflyers in Year 5 and middle set Year 6. If they achieve a high pass mark, the children will progress through to the bonus challenge round, which is normally completed in February.

Collaborating with the Senior School, our top 10-12 (cohort dependent) will join Year 7+8 pupils at the Senior School to complete the Junior Maths Challenge.

Year 3-4 pupils, if suitable, will have the opportunity to sit the First Maths Challenge paper in June.

Primary Maths Challenge – November

Junior Maths Challenge – End of April/May

First Maths Challenge – June

Key Mathematical Activities

Year 6 workshops with Maths Academy pupils from the Senior School (2 sets Autumn Term, 1 set Spring Term)

Maths Week: 13th-17th November England Rocks!

Competition

Inter-house countdown competition

Ashford Senior School Annual Year 5 Maths Challenge

Year 5 Practice Round at Prep School

New 2023: Inter-house countdown competition

Year 5 Binary Session with Senior School

National Maths Day across school

Calendar Dates

Enrichments Opportunities

Monday (4-5): Maths Puzzles

Friday (4-5): Board Games & Puzzles

Assessment, Marking and Monitoring

GL school assessments x2 per year

Times tables rockstars

Diagnostic Questions assessments

PSB self-assessment

PSB evidence – minimum of two pieces per term

MTC multiplication checks (Year 4)

Head of Faculty Learning Walks

TT Rockstars/Numbots

Children are encouraged to use Numbots to support early subitising skills and number bond work, they can progress through levels.

TT rockstars supports timetables. Teachers can set the tables that are suitable for their class and look to see progression through heatmaps. Children can receive the following awards:

Rock Star – Less than 3 seconds

Rock Legend – Less than 2 seconds

Rock Hero – Less than 1 second

Mish-Mash Maths

Recently introduced in 2022, children at Ashford Prep School enjoy a carousel of maths activities across their year group. Each teacher (3 per year group) will move around the classes with 20minute rotations to deliver a quick-fire problem solving activity. Mish-Mash Maths activities offer plenty of opportunities for children to trial and error, try different methods of working and explore a range of PSB skills.

Mish-Maths Maths takes place at the end of each short term (5x per school year – excluding April for National Maths Day).

Examples:

Mastery and Reasoning

NCETM mastery guides are available on our TEAMS faculty page for teachers to access appropriate style questions in-line with progression grids.

Questioning is important to allow children to deepen their understanding, being able to explain how to reach an answer is option as important as being able to use calculations. See folders for progression and reasoning alongside progression in Faculty folder.