Mathematics at Gateway Primary School

Mathematics at Gateway Primary School is an essential part of a balanced and broad curriculum that is both challenging and enjoyable. Our expectation is that all learners should become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics through varied and frequent practice and should be able to reason mathematically and solve problems by the application of their mathematical understanding. At Gateway, we follow the NCETM Curriculum Proritisation Materials supplemented by Oak Academy. This ensures that teaching is cyclical and builds on small manageable steps in order to help children understand the overall concepts. When introducing new concepts, we use concrete, pictorial and abstract approaches in order to embed a deeper understanding. We are developing a mastery approach to teaching and learning within mathematics at Gateway and aim to encourage our children to not only think mathematically but talk mathematically in order to develop their ability to articulate, discuss and explain using precise vocabulary. As a school, we endeavour to ensure that every child develops an enthusiastic and creative attitude towards mathematics that will develop their habits of thinking mathematically later on in life.

Mathematics offers children an opportunity to:  

• Make sense of the numbers, patterns and shapes they see in the world around them, offers ways of handling data in an increasingly digital world and makes a crucial contribution to their development as successful learners.
• Explore mathematical problems that sometimes lead them to unexpected discoveries or new connections within the subject and beyond.
• Communicate using their mathematical thinking and language skills.
• Explore concepts, skills and thinking strategies that are essential in everyday life and support learning across the curriculum.
• Receive teaching that stimulates curiosity, creativity and equips children with the skills they need to be successful in later life.

Mathematic lessons at Gateway allow children to:

• Become competent and independent mathematicians through gaining a deeper understanding of the concepts being taught.
• Have the opportunity to revisit and reflect on mathematics they have learnt previously which they can build on.
• Use a wide range of mathematical manipulatives to show their workings in a concrete fashion, before establishing ways of pictorially and formally representing their understanding.
• Have opportunities to solve rich mathematical problems and investigations.
• Have opportunities in every lesson to discuss their mathematical ideas and problems with each other.
• Have opportunities to deepen their understanding by using the Diving Deeper Model. 
• Self-evaluate their own progress and identify their own misconceptions through the use of live-marking and verbal feedback.
• Develop a positive mindset towards mathematics that will encourage their enthusiasm and curiosity.

EYFS and Key Stage 1:

The Mastering Number Programme is used to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from EYFS through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim, over time, is that children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and confidence and flexibility with number. Attention will be given to key knowledge and understanding needed in EYFS classes, and progression through KS1 to support success in the future. This will ensure that pupils develop confidence and mental fluency with whole numbers, counting and place value. EYFS are taught maths through Mastering Number and additional opportunities are provided to develop an understanding of shape, space and measure. 

Year 1 / 2 are taught using split inputs using NCETM overview. 

Key Stage 2

Fluency

In Year 3, Mastering Number is used to secure key additive facts. Knowledge of multiplication and division and its applications forms the single most important aspect of the KS2 curriculum, and is the gateway to success at secondary school. Mastering Number enables pupils in Years 4 and 5 to develop fluency in multiplication and division facts, and a confidence and flexibility with number that exemplifies good number sense. We use Times Tables Rock Stars to consolidate quick recall of times table facts. 

Maths Curriculum 

Year 3 / 4  and Year 5 / 6 are taught using the NCETM 2 year rolling programme as whole class sessions. This supports us to navigate the challenge of structuring a coherent and equitable curriculum within mixed-age classrooms, ensuring all pupils develop deep mathematical understanding while making the best use of teacher time and resources.