We aim to foster curiosity and excitement in discovering mathematical concepts and broadening pupils' knowledge and understanding of the importance of mathematics in the wider world.

We encourage and support our pupils to see themselves as mathematicians, making rich connections between mathematical ideas in order to be confident in explaining and applying their knowledge and understanding, solving problems and embracing new challenges.

We intend to develop knowledge and understanding by regularly revisiting mathematical concepts, giving pupils the opportunity to consolidate and deepen their understanding.

Across the school, maths planning is contextualised to link to our topics as appropriate.

As we work towards a Mastery approach, White Rose Maths planning resources are used to ensure consistency across year groups, alongside NCETM and NRICH materials. In Reception, Year One and Year Two, the Mastering Number Programme is followed, supported by White Rose Maths resources. No Nonsense Number Facts and M Cubed resources are also used to support the planning, teaching and learning of times tables facts and to develop fluency in number facts.

Pupils' reasoning is scaffolded through sentence stems and further developed through probing questions. This supports their verbal and written explanations. Careful use of manipulatives and mathematically structured images support pupils in gaining a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

Good quality Wave 1 teaching provides adaptations to lessons in order to enable and extend pupils with individual needs including 'Dive Deeper' challenges to consolidate and deepen understanding. We also use the Number Stacks Programme to support pupils with gaps in their learning. Additional provision is identified in individual and whole class provision maps.

Connections between vocabulary, contexts, symbols and mathematically structured images are made explicit during teaching sessions, and are displayed on a workign wall within the classroom. Each term the Maths Lead attends the Primary  Maths Subject Leader meeting and shares the learning and resources with staff. The group is also involved in the 'Embedding Teaching for Mastery' Work Group.

Pupils in Chapter One are provided with weekly home learning activities which link to current learning in school and are of a practical nature. Parents and carers are encouraged to share these with the school via Tapestry. Pupils in Chapters Two and Three (Y2-Y6) have their own TT Rockstars and Mathletics accounts. TTRS supports recall of multiplicationa nd division facts. Mathletics tasks are set to link with current maths learning in school. A maths club is run in the Autumn and Spring term to provide support.

Assessment in maths is regular and ongoing. Teachers use elicitation tasks to inform their planning and interventions and to ensure they are providing a mathematics curriculum that will allow each child to progress. Task sheets are used for each unit of work and highlighted to show attainment and progress. Feedback is given to pupils through written and verbal comments, with opportunities for pupils to respond. Pupils from Years 2-6 complete a termly summative assessment (WRM paper or previous SATs paper) in order to support teacher assessment.   

The teaching and learning of maths is also monitored through book scrutinies, pupil conferencing, learning walks and lesson observations. 

Able Mathematicians

What makes a good mathematician? What skills do you need in order to be efficient? What do you learn about in maths? Who helps you and how? We asked some of our mathematicians at Bluecoat School. Watch the films to find out their thoughts!

Thank you Megan, Will, Matthew and Hayden for your contributions.