ATW Maths

Dorothy Vaughan

Mathematician and “Human Computer” who helped NASA with their space missions from 1943 to 1971

Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment.

Atwood aims to provide a high-quality mathematics education in order to provide a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

Atwood follows the National Curriculum for mathematics and we aim to ensure that all pupils:

Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
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.

Our mathematics curriculum is broken down into the following strands:

Number

Number and place value
Addition and subtraction
Multiplication and division
Fractions

Measurement

Geometry

Properties of shapes
Position and direction

Statistics

Atwood’s over-arching aims for mathematics are that our children will:

Enjoy the subject and study it with a sense of confidence and achievement
Achieve a high standard in numeracy and gain a secure foundation of knowledge, skills and concepts
Secure mathematical skills and knowledge accompanied by a quick recall of basic number facts
Use and apply these skills with confidence and understanding in real life problems and within mathematics itself
Have an awareness of the use of mathematics in the world beyond the classroom
Develop understanding through a process of enquiry and experience
Develop persistence through sustained learning over a period of time
Develop an ability to think logically and to use mathematical language with confidence and understanding
Have an appreciation of mathematical patterns and relationships
Have a positive attitude towards mathematics as an interesting and creative subject
Gain experience of working independently, investigating their own ideas and developing their own mental and written methods

Our Approach

We are developing our use of a mastery approach to the learning of maths where all children have the opportunity to develop their fluency, problem solving and reasoning skills within each lesson. We believe all children can achieve in maths and we encourage children to think of themselves as mathematicians. We apply principles of open differentiation so that children can be independent in their learning choices and use collaborative learning as a way to deepen understanding. Use of manipulatives (e.g. numicon, base 10, place value counters) enables children to conceptualise mathematical ideas.

We are guided by the latest research into the best ways to teach maths. We use a range of resources to support planning, but the learning is sequenced into small steps which each build on previous learning. We use White Rose schemes of work to help structure our long and medium term planning but make this bespoke to the children at Atwood through use of additional resources.

Atwood’s use of Mathematics websites to support learning at home and in school

We use Numbots from the summer term of reception through to Key Stage One and where appropriate in Key Stage Two. This website enables children to develop skills around subitising, addition and subtraction and responds to the needs of each individual child, naturally progressing them when they demonstrate fluency around a concept. In Year 2, Times Tables Rockstars is introduced and children use this to develop their recall of multiplication and division facts. This is used regularly, with great impact, to support the children in preparing for the Year 4 multiplication check and being fluent in all times tables up to 12×12. Mathletics is introduced in Year 3 and enables the children to play mathematical games and take part in mathematical challenges; it is also a great resource that inspires the children to rehearse their mathematics at home!

How you can support your child’s learning at home

Firstly, you can encourage your child to access the maths websites listed above. These tips will also support your child’s mathematical development:

· Talk to your child about what they have learnt about maths in school.

· Play games which involve strategy, decision making or number based learning (e.g. card games, Yahtzee, Rummikub, Sushi Go and Phase 10).

· Involve your child in real life maths (e.g cooking, telling the time, using money)