We want everyone to enjoy numeracy.
Differentiation through depth rather than acceleration allows children to develop understanding and mathematical vocabulary at a pace that suits them. If a child needs longer to assimilate concepts and understanding, this is accommodated and, in turn, leads to greater progress and helps them actually enjoy their learning.
Nursery
Each day includes a numeracy session with the group, and what they learn helps them start to use numbers in open, purposeful activity linked through cross-curricular topic-based learning. Mathematics provides them with a range of opportunities of working with numbers, becoming competent in counting, sorting, matching, as well as understanding patterns and working with shapes, space and measurements. We encourage children to develop the use of mathematical language and organise their ideas and explain what they have done. A range of activities such as cooking and block play encourage the use of maths in a very practical way.
Transition
The Mathematics curriculum is aimed at acquiring and understanding numeracy skills and applying these in measurement, space, shape and problem-solving investigations. Connections between numbers are identified – such as the relationship between doubles and halves, to assist efficient calculations. We offer a balance of explicit teaching, and independent learning. Children make decisions about choosing the correct strategy to use and critically evaluating its use. Children have ample opportunities to explain their mathematical thinking, then build on their understanding to progress from concrete materials to pictorial and numerical representations.
Middle School
Mathematics is taught daily and initially the children carry out a range of work and activities to develop their mathematical thinking such as place value, number bonds, fractions, decimal fractions, multiplication tables, time, money, problem solving, geometry and algebra investigations. Those children who are ready will continue to be challenged by extending their skills.
Others will need more practice and will be helped to consolidate their skills by using a variety of strategies. Our aim is to make maths as practical and concrete as possible, and we believe that maths should be a pleasure. It is important that children become confident mathematicians, who have a range of strategies to tackle mathematical problems.