Maths
Curriculum Intent
At Willen Primary School, our maths curriculum is designed with the belief that every child can achieve their full potential. We operate on the principle that success in mathematics is not predetermined; our teaching embodies a growth mindset, encouraging students to believe in their ability to improve. Our approach focuses on depth of understanding before expanding the breadth of knowledge. This ensures that all pupils progress together, with lessons accessible to every learner.
We maintain high expectations for all students, instilling in them confidence and a love for mathematics. This is a collective effort, valued by staff, pupils, parents, and carers alike, fostering a community of confident and successful mathematicians.
We are proud that our Maths Lead is now a recognised Primary Mastery Specialist and Local Leader of Mathematics Education (LLME), who works with the Enigma Hub and the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) to bring best practices to our school. We align our planning with NCETM Curriculum Prioritisation and Oak Academy materials to ensure coherent and high-quality learning experiences. From Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Year 5, we employ the Mastering Number program to enhance fluency and recall of number facts.
Implementation of Maths Mastery
Our teaching embraces the Maths Mastery approach, utilizing resources from NCETM and Oak Academy. Feedback is provided during and after lessons, with dedicated time for students to refine their work. Whole-class teaching is the standard, supplemented with adult support when necessary.
We provide regular opportunities for students to engage in reasoning, problem-solving, and fluency exercises. To deepen understanding, our lessons incorporate concrete, pictorial, and abstract representations. Lessons are structured in small, conceptual steps to strengthen connections and ensure comprehensive understanding.
We incorporate spaced practice and retrieval activities to help students retain knowledge over time. Additional support is promptly provided to ensure all students can access subsequent lessons. For students who quickly grasp concepts, challenge tasks are available to explore greater depth rather than accelerating through the curriculum.
Dialogue is central to our teaching, fostering discussions between teachers and pupils, as well as among pupils themselves. We allow flexible topic durations, ensuring sucient depth of learning. Adaptive teaching is primarily facilitated through adult support and the use of enabling and extending tasks. Assessment is recorded on Sonar and supplemented by informal tools from NCETM.
Why This Matters
Our curriculum builds robust mathematical foundations and instills confidence in our students. It aids in long-term knowledge retention and supports the development of fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
How Parents Can Help
Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing their child's mathematical learning. Here are some ways you can help:
Practice Number Facts: Incorporate games and quick quizzes to make learning fun. Encourage Reasoning: Ask your child to explain their thinking and reasoning behind solutions.
Support Homework: Engage with your child's homework and discuss mathematical concepts in everyday situations.
Celebrate Effort and Progress: Emphasise the importance of effort and progress, not just correct answers.
For more information, feel free to contact us via email at oce@willenprimary.org, addressed to Mrs. Prescott, our Maths Lead. Visit our website for additional resources and updates.
