Maths

Maths at Hodge Hill Primary

The national curriculum for mathematics aims 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.

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Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between different mathematical ideas. The programmes of study are, by necessity, organised into apparently distinct domains, but pupils should make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge to science and other subjects.

The expectation is that the majority of pupils will move through the programmes of study at broadly the same pace. However, decisions about when to progress should always be based on the security of pupils’ understanding and their readiness to progress to the next stage. Pupils who grasp concepts rapidly should be challenged through being offered rich and sophisticated problems before any acceleration through new content. Those who are not sufficiently fluent with earlier material should consolidate their understanding, including through additional practice, before moving on.

At Hodge Hill, our maths curriculum is designed to provide children with the opportunity to expand upon and develop their mental maths skills, and prepare them for the wide variety of problem-solving opportunities that they will encounter in their lives. As a school, we have invested in different practical resources to support children with bridging the gap between abstract mathematical concepts and concrete representations that they can manipulate and draw up.

Fluency 

Fluency is a key part of the maths curriculum.  We want children to have a good understanding of number and be able to make connections and develop automaticity.  Daily fluency sessions help children develop their number sense and fact recall using taught strategies.  In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children use the Mastering Number programme through the NCETM to support their learning and practise of different strategies.  In KS2, children focus on multiplication, related facts and arithmetic style questions.  

Mastering Number

Mastering Number is a systematic and structured programme through the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of  Mathematics which develops children's confidence and flexibility with number and fluency in addition and subtraction facts.