Maths

Intent of our Mathematics Curriculum

At Bidston Avenue Primary School, we believe that Mathematics is essential to every day life as it equips children with a uniquely powerful set of tools to understand and change the world. We embrace a mastery approach to the teaching of Mathematics. Problem solving and reasoning are at the heart of every lesson.  We encourage children to work collaboratively, think clearly and logically, and develop determination. We promote the use of concrete apparatus, pictorial representations and mathematical vocabulary to support our learning. Our aim is that children become fluent in the fundamentals of Mathematics; they understand relationships and generalisations, and develop justification or proof using mathematical language.

How do we teach maths?

We teach Maths using the Maths No Problem scheme, an approach to teaching maths developed in Singapore.  Problem solving, fluency and relational understanding are at the heart of the scheme.  It uses the Concrete Pictorial Abstract (CPA) approach and allows pupils to spend enough time to fully explore a topic, reinforcing it with practice, before moving onto the next one.  All ideas are built on previous knowledge and pupils have ample opportunity to develop relationships between topics.

Lessons typically are broken into four parts:

1. Anchor Task – the entire class spends time on a question guided by the teacher. The children are encouraged during this time to think of as many ways as possible to solve the question as possible.
2. New Learning – the teacher introduces and explains the new learning for the lesson.
3. Guided Practice – children reinforce new learning in groups, pairs or individually guided by the teacher.
4. Independent Practice –. Once children have mastered the concept they use their reasoning and problem-solving skills to develop their depth of learning.

Key points:

• A highly effective approach to teaching maths based on research and evidence
• Builds students’ mathematical fluency without the need for rote learning
• Introduces new concepts using Bruner’s Concrete Pictorial Abstract (CPA) approach
• Pupils learn to think mathematically as opposed to reciting formulas they don’t understand
• Teaches mental strategies to solve problems such as drawing a bar model

Find out more at the Maths No Problem website.

We also use Times Tables Rockstars as a tool to help pupils develop fluency in multiplication tables. 

For homework, children use MyMaths website to practise previously learnt maths knowledge and skills. MyMaths home learning is set weekly.

Have a look at the programmes of study for each year group below: