Burpham Primary School

 Maths

'In Maths, we learn about numbers, shape and measure.'

News and Events

• Congratulations to everyone that took part in the Year 5 & 6 Primary Maths Challenge, especially the two Year 6 children that made it through to the bonus round.
• To take part in the next Olympic Times Tables Challenge, please sign up with your class teacher.
• The Infants are taking part in the Mastering Number programme. This is a major new initiative from the NCETM and Maths Hubs. It is aimed at strengthening the understanding of number, and fluency with number facts, among children in the first three years of school.

Maths at Burpham

We aim to ensure that all children:

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that they have conceptual understanding and are able to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately to problems
• reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
• can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions 

Intent

• Follow a mastery approach to teaching maths where the whole class learn together, with appropriate support and challenge
• Teach a rich, balanced and progressive curriculum using maths to reason, problem solve and develop fluent conceptual understanding in each area
• Allow children to develop the power of resilience and perseverance when faced with mathematical challenges
• Promote a love of maths
• Make links between the maths we teach and real-world applications
• Every child believes they can make progress and achieve
• Engage all children
• Development of deep mathematical understanding in which children retain knowledge and can apply it across different topics

Implementation

• Provide a curriculum whereby challenges gradually increase in difficulty, but at a pace in which all can access
• Provide a linear curriculum with opportunities to revisit and apply learning throughout the year
• We follow the National Curriculum primarily using the White Rose Scheme of work, alongside materials from the NCETM, I See Reasoning and Problem-Solving, NRICH, DfE Mathematics Guidance, and resources created by class teachers
• The calculation policy is used to ensure a consistent approach to teaching the four operations
• Interventions are run, where possible, to provide support for children who require it, as determined by the class teacher
• Concrete materials and pictorial representations are used to demonstrate and visualise abstract ideas, alongside numbers and symbols (CPA approach)
• Weekly arithmetic lessons to embed learning and improve retention
• Mastering Number initiative followed in the Infants
• Provision of mathematical vocabulary for use in reasoning
• Effective questioning targeting how an answer is achieved or reasons for a chosen method
• Children encouraged to ask questions and challenge methods to deepen understanding and address misconceptions

Impact

• Burpham children enjoy maths
• Children have a “can do” attitude to maths
• Children are able to reason well verbally and/or in written form
• Children take risks and are not afraid to tackle challenging questions
• Children experience high challenge and low threat in maths lessons
• Children choose the equipment they need to help them to learn, along with the strategies they think are best suited to each problem
• Our maths books show evidence of fluency, reasoning and problem solving
• Clear evidence of progression, engagement and enjoyment of maths across the school
• Teachers and LSAs are confident to use questioning to support and challenge
• Teachers, LSAs and children use high-level mathematical vocabulary  

Mastery in Mathematics

Mastering maths means acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject that will enable pupils to move on to more advanced material later on. This is something that we want all our pupils to acquire and continue acquiring throughout their school lives, and beyond. At Burpham we have adopted some of the fundamental principles behind the mastery approach to the teaching and learning of mathematics:

• The belief that all pupils can achieve
• Keeping the class working together so that all can access and master mathematics – using support and challenge as necessary
• Development of deep mathematical understanding
• Development of both factual/procedural and conceptual fluency
• Spending longer on key topics, providing time to go deeper and embed learning
• Objects and pictures used to demonstrate and visualise abstract ideas, alongside numbers and symbols 

Please click on the following link for further information about this mastery approach: A Mastery Approach to Teaching and Learning Mathematics

Maths Curriculum Overview

Calculation Policy

Click here to take a look at how we teach the written methods for all four operations and the progression within each. We strongly recommend that when supporting at home, you use this guide to ensure your child is receiving the same teaching at home and at school. This will avoid any confusion, leading to a much better understanding for your child.

Supporting your child with Maths

Times Tables

What are the expectations for learning times tables?  How can I help my child in a fun way? Click here for some tips and advice, along with suggested activities, to help answer these questions.

Useful Websites

Here is a list of fantastic and high quality websites for children to use while practising their Maths skills:

• TT Rockstars - https://ttrockstars.com/
• White Rose - https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/
• NRICH - https://nrich.maths.org/
• iSeeMaths activities - http://www.iseemaths.com/home-lessons/       
• Topmarks - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/
• BBC Bitesize (KS1) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize 
• Oxford Owl (KS1) - https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/kids-activities/fun-maths-games-and-activities
• ICT games - www.ictgames.com

Olympic Times Tables Challenge

The Olympic Times Tables Challenge is held once a month, in class, for children in Years 2-6. Children who pass are awarded with either an Olympian sticker or a trophy badge, along with a certificate.

Practice papers can be downloaded by clicking on the links below and details of each stage of the Olympic Challenge can be found by looking at the Olympic Challenge Chart. Each challenge must be completed in 3 minutes or under and all questions need to be answered correctly.  

It would be great if you could help and encourage your child to learn their times tables and prepare them for one of the challenges. There are lots of ideas to help with this above.

Practice Papers:

Rules: