Mathematics

Mathematics provides a way of viewing and making sense of the world. It is an important skill, which runs throughout life, from acquiring and developing skills as a child to using them as an adult at work and home.

Mathematics also provides the material and means for creating new and imaginative worlds to explore. In turn, enhancing the development of analysis and communication of information and ideas, and the process to tackle a range of practical tasks and real life problems.

At Meynell, we endeavour to develop each pupil individually and personally, to promote enthusiasm, confidence and enjoyment of mathematics itself, and in doing so help children to appreciate the part mathematics has played in the development of science, technology and our civilisation and the contribution made by many cultures to the progression and application of mathematics.

Mathematics is a vital aspect of the school curriculum, through this; we aim to make each child aware that mathematics provides a powerful means of communication and reasoning.

At Meynell Primary School, we are working hard within the teaching of maths.  Our aim is to develop a culture of deep understanding, confidence and competence in maths across the whole of our school – a culture that produces strong, secure mathematics within each year group. By building confidence, resilience and a passion for maths, we show all children that maths is an exciting adventure that everyone can enjoy, value and master!

Please find the year group curriculum overviews that we use in the planning, teaching and delivery of mathematics within our school. 

Within all areas of our mathematical learning we actively encourage the use of both concrete resources and visual representation in order to develop our children's mathematical knowledge, understanding and skills before moving onto the abstract element of mathematics.

Below are some examples of our children using these within their daily maths lesson.    

Talk for Maths

We are focused on building a wide range of opportunities whole school to develop our reasoning and problem solving skills. We are discussing our learning using phrases such as:

• Spot the mistake / Which is correct?
• True or false?
• What comes next?
• Do, then explain
• Make up an example / Write more statements / Create a question / Another and another
• What do you notice?
• Continue the pattern
• Missing numbers / Missing symbols / Missing information/Connected calculations
• Working backwards / Use the inverse / Undoing / Unpicking
• Hard and easy questions
• What else do you know? / Use a fact
• Fact families
• Convince me / Prove it / Generalising / Explain thinking
• Make an estimate
• Always, sometimes, never
• Making links /Applying your learning
• Can you find?
• What’s the same, what’s different?
• Odd one out
• Complete the pattern / Continue the pattern
• Another and another
• Ordering
• Testing conditions
• The answer is…
• Visualising
• Story boarding
• If I know this……. Then I know…….
• This can’t be true because…… I know this.

These strategies are a very powerful way of developing pupils’ reasoning skills and can be used flexibly. Many are transferable to different areas of mathematics and the wider curriculum.