Our Approach to Maths

Mathematics is more than just being able to calculate with numbers. We want pupils to be engaging with real problems; estimating, discovering, and making sense of mathematics – many of which will be new to the pupils.

We want children to:

• Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils have conceptual understanding and are able to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately to problems
• Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
• 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.

These aims are directly linked to the principles of the new National Curriculum for Maths 2014.

What does Maths look like at Buckfastleigh Primary School?

At Buckfastleigh Primary, we use a Teaching for Mastery (TfM) approach to the teaching and learning of mathematics. The 5 big ideas of TfM (coherence, representation & structure, mathematical thinking, variation and fluency) are fundamental to our approach.

Power Maths is a UK curriculum mastery programme designed to spark curiosity and excitement and nurture confidence in maths. The scheme is built around a child‑centred lesson design that models and embeds a growth mind-set approach to maths and focusses on helping all children to build a deep understanding of maths concepts.

Our intention is that all children will develop mastery and a love of maths. We strive to improve the outcomes for all our children and achieve the aims of the National Curriculum: Fluency, Reasoning and Problem-Solving. There will be effective teaching and learning across the school as a result of effective professional development of both subject knowledge and pedagogy.

At Buckfastleigh Primary School, we follow the Power Maths Schemes of learning in EYFS, KS1 and KS2, supplemented with teaching and learning resources from White Rose.