Maths
At Elworth CE Primary School, we have adopted a mastery approach to the teaching of maths whereby children are given a deeper and broader understanding of the key mathematical concepts rather than being accelerated quickly through new content. Our school uses Power Maths which is a DfE recommended textbook and supports the mastery approach.
What you will typically see:
- The large majority of our pupils progress through the curriculum content at the same pace. Differentiation is achieved by emphasising deep knowledge and through individual support and intervention.
- Practice and consolidation play a central role. Carefully designed variation within this builds fluency and understanding of underlying mathematical concepts in tandem.
- Teachers use precise questioning in class to test conceptual and procedural knowledge, and assess pupils regularly to identify those requiring intervention so that all pupils keep up.
- Children are taught in mixed ability groups and use the concrete, pictorial and abstract approach (CPA) to ensure that procedural and conceptual understanding are developed simultaneously.
- Emphasis is placed on ‘learning’ through reasoning, developing multiple strategies and concepts towards understanding.
- Challenge for pupils grasping concepts quickly is provided through depth and breadth of experience.
- During lessons, teachers use precise questioning to check, assess and challenge children’s understanding and in response, children are expected to articulate their explanations to problems using accurate mathematical vocabulary.
Number Fluency
Times Tables
Elworth CE Primary School places great emphasis on the children having times tables knowledge at their finger tips in KS2. To support the children to develop this automaticity, children follow a Times Table Fluency programme throughout Year 3 and Year 4 which enables children to develop their fluency and quick recall of all multiplication facts up to 12 x 12, as well as the corresponding division facts. This then allows for further consolidation throughout Year 5 and Year 6.
Children are encouraged to practise their times tables at home using Times Tables Rockstars. Please follow this link Times Tables Rockstars to access this resource.
Homework
During the Autumn term, maths homework is set weekly using Maths Shed in KS2. KS2 Homework link: Maths Shed
After October half term, CGP books are utilised for maths homework in KS2 to revise topics which have already covered in class.