Mathematics is important in everyday life.  It is integral to all aspects of life and with this in mind we endeavour to ensure that children develop a healthy and enthusiastic attitude towards mathematics that will stay with them.

Mathematics helps children to make sense of the world around them through developing their ability to calculate, to reason and to solve problems.  It enables children to understand and appreciate relationships and pattern in both number and space in their everyday lives.  Through their growing knowledge and understanding, children learn to appreciate the contribution made by many cultures to the development and application of mathematics

The school aims to:

• develop in pupils, according to their ability, mathematical skills and concepts and to develop the ability to use their mathematical skills in every day life;
• help children become aware that mathematics can be a tool and an element of communication in the school curriculum, in working life and in society in general;
• teach them to understand and appreciate the use of information presented in a mathematical form.

The school follows the recommended National Curriculum programmes of study using White Rose Maths and NCETM as tools for planning.

Intent of Maths at Broad Oak Primary School

Our vision is to offer our children a broad and ambitious curriculum which meets the needs of all learners. To provide them with the knowledge and cultural capital needed to succeed in life. To be able to understand the purpose of maths and how it will impact their lives in later years. To be able to solve problems that they may encounter using the skills they have acquired through an enriching maths curriculum. Our staff all share the same vision for each pupil and plan and sequence lessons to ensure these needs are met. Evidence of this can be found in the children’s work and monitoring and evaluation of the subject. This year we have embarked on our mastery journey into mathematics. We have continued to use the NCETM Mastering Number programme in EYFS and KS1. We have also completed our first year in the 'Mastery Readiness'  initiative led by our local maths hub and NCETM. In September 2023, we will continue into the second phase of this initiative.

Implementation of Maths at Broad Oak Primary School

Staff at Broad Oak are all experienced practitioners who are familiar with the maths scheme of work. The maths coordinator attends all training within the WRIST team and delivers high quality feedback to other staff members to keep them updated with changes and developments. Teachers work from short term planning which is linked to yearly planning which is predominantly delivered using White Rose Maths. Through planning teachers refer to objectives, success criteria, vocabulary, modelling techniques, contextual learning, using and applying and assessment. The coordinator then spends time looking over the plans of the staff to ensure continuity. Staff are experienced enough to know when a particular concept requires more or less coverage and any misconceptions are swiftly addressed or used to inform the next planning week. We use White Rose Maths as an overarching scheme with elements of other suitable resources included, depending on the needs of the children.

Impact of Maths at Broad Oak Primary School

As a school we are continuing to look closely at fluency and providing children with the skills they need to become more fluent in maths. Teachers are able to use a 'Flashback 4' at the start of every lesson to recap and consolidate prior learning. Teachers model the most effective ways to calculate the answers to calculations and refer to the current policy to ensure the correct skills are being used for their year group. High quality feedback, both verbally and written help the children to understand what their next steps are. Through observation of both books and lessons it is clear that the maths in taught well at Broad Oak. Teachers in lessons provide opportunities for the children to thrive and become active learners. Looking through the children’s books, there is a range of methods and skills being implemented and feedback and marking over both support and challenge.

NCETM Mastering Number Project

This project aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim over time is that children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. Attention will be given to key knowledge and understanding needed in Reception classes, and progression through KS1 to support success in the future.