Purposeful Maths at Ratby
At Ratby Primary School our approach to the teaching of mathematics aims to equip children with the confidence and thinking strategies to tackle practical and problem-solving situations in everyday life. Our maths curriculum develops a mastery approach, which we believe will allow children to achieve high standards. Using well-developed lessons, from White Rose Education, pupils work through small steps developing fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills. At Ratby Primary School, these skills are embedded within our maths lessons and developed consistently over time
Teachers are committed to ensuring that children are able to use their mathematical skills and knowledge confidently in a range of different contexts. We strive to raise standards across the school and provide more opportunity to revisit fluency skills and reasoning tasks. Throughout lessons, pupils will be appropriately challenged and supported through varied fluency, reasoning and problem-solving activities. Irrespective of personal starting points, children will explore maths in depth, and use a range of mathematical vocabulary to reason and explain their methods and make links.
Teaching and Learning
In EYFS, a number sense approach is taken for children to master number. The teaching of maths is also built upon the White Rose Education scheme of work which underpins the Educational Programme for Mathematics (DfE March 2021). Lessons involve lots of mathematical thinking and talking, are often practical, interactive, playful and inclusive with support and challenge from adults in class sessions, small groups and working with individuals. There is a combination of adult-led, teacher taught sessions as well as a wealth of stimulating continuous provision opportunities when adults scaffold learning through skillful interactions and questioning. Specific skills are taught in whole class maths mastery lessons and teacher guided practical activities that allow children to use, enjoy, explore, practice and talk confidently about mathematics.
White Rose Maths supports the small step progression of our lessons from Year 1 to Year 6. This works alongside the National Curriculum as it breaks objectives down into small steps. There is a focus on working efficiently and accurately; children are encouraged to spend time self-checking using the inverse. Children use a wider range of mathematical vocabulary and are expected to articulate their reasoning about mathematics clearly, using precise mathematical language and sentence stems. Knowledge Organisers are used to consolidate skills and build on prior learning. Knowledge Organisers are also used as a resource to deliver low-stake quizzing, this ensures that learning moves from the working memory to long-term memory.
A large focus is on developing problem solving in all areas of the mathematics curriculum. As a school, we use the ‘DAB’ approach to problem solving:
- We encourage pupils to first ‘Decide’ what the question is asking them to do;
- Then pupils must ‘Assess’ the problem, choosing the most efficient approach to solving the problem;
- Finally, children must ‘Back up’ their reasoning and be able to explain how they reached their solution. Sentence stems are shared regularly as an efficient way to explain ideas mathematically.
Children are given the opportunity to explore mathematical concepts in many different contexts. This variation helps to develop mastery and develop mathematical reasoning. As well as this, we ensure our lessons are responsive to the need of our classes. We use formative and summative assessments to address misconceptions within a child’s understanding. The White Rose Education scheme of work is enhanced using resources from Planpanion, Maths Shed, NCTEM, Nrich and TestBase. This ensures that our existing maths curriculum is supplemented with explicit problem solving lessons and spaced learning to develop fluency.
Enriching Maths at Ratby.
Maths Ambassadors have been selected from every class at Ratby Primary School from Year 2 – Year 6. These Ambassadors have been selected for their love and passion for mathematics. The Ambassadors meet termly to create an exciting maths newsletter, showcasing maths at Ratby and sharing some of the amazing learning that takes place. Every year, Ratby Primary School take part in the NSPCC ‘Number Day.’ During this special day, children enjoy a maths rich day that makes links to many other areas of the curriculum. In addition, they raise money for the NSPCC and dress up on the day linked to our ‘Number Day theme.’ Another fantastic maths opportunity is the Year 6 ‘Enterprise challenge.’ Children are given a budget and a challenge to build a business that will create a profit over a two week period. Pupils work hard to balance their budgets, manage spending and work out their profits. It has always been a wonderful success!
We want all children to enjoy mathematics at Ratby Primary School and to recognise the importance of maths in the wider world and to experience success. We are committed to developing the children’s curiosity and resilience for the subject, as well as their ability to reason and problem-solve.
Maths Lead
Mrs Steiner
