Maths Curriculum at Mayflower

Maths

At Mayflower, we believe that every child can learn and enjoy maths. Our bespoke maths curriculum is carefully designed to ensure our pupils leave the school with a secure understanding in all areas of maths. But, just as importantly, we make sure that children move on to secondary school with a love and enthusiasm for the subject.

Pedagogy

At the heart of our approach to teaching maths is the use of manipulatives. Manipulatives are concrete objects that help children to learn mathematical concepts and are used across the school from Nursery to Year 6. Examples include the use of place value counters to support teaching subtraction in KS2.

Our maths curriculum also includes representations that are used to visualise different mathematical structures. An example of a representation might be using a part/part/whole diagram to show the relationship between numbers in an addition calculation.

Our calculation policy is used to show the progression in calculation methods for each of the 4 operations. But, beyond that, it provides examples of manipulatives and representations that can be used to support teaching and learning across the school.

Fluency

From year 1 – 6, pupils have regular fluency session designed to embed key number facts and procedures. As pupils become more fluent mathematicians, they can draw on these to solve mathematical problems in different contexts. Additive and multiplicative facts are introduced in sequence and are constantly revisited to ensure pupils can calculate efficiently and without cognitive overload. Pupils also use app based learning (Times Table Rockstars, Numbots) to practise key number facts at school and home.

Reasoning + Problem Solving

Oracy is central to our maths curriculum. Through our regular problem-solving sessions, which are taught as part of every unit, pupils develop vital reasoning skills. They learn to collaborate with others and develop their mathematical language while investigating open ended problems. Problem solving strategies are introduced in KS1 (Working Systematically, Visualising, Pattern Spotting) and KS2 (Reasoning Logically, Trial and Improvement, Conjecture/Hypothesis) to support pupils in tackling increasingly complex problems.

Progression of Core Concepts

We have carefully sequenced our curriculum to ensure regular retrieval and revision of previously learnt content. The most important mathematical knowledge and understanding is prioritised so that our pupils are ready to progress on to the following year’s curriculum.

References

Our maths curriculum has been developed with reference to and support from a range of organisations and evidence based sources including: NCETM, NRich, EEF Improving Mathematics Guidance Reports: EYS&KS1 KS2, London South East Plus Maths Hub, DfE guidance for teaching mathematics in primary schools, National Curriculum, Oak National Academy, White Rose Maths.