Mathematics

Mathematics Teaching for Mastery following the NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics)

At Biggin Hill Primary School, we want our children to enjoy mathematics and thrive on the challenge of solving puzzles and problems using their mathematical skills. They should be able to articulate their thinking and develop resilience and perseverance through challenge, leading to a true sense of pride and achievement. We ensure that each individual is ready for the next stage in their learning and achieves their full potential.

Mastering Number:

In EYFS, children follow the Mathematics Educational Programme from The Statutory Framework for Early Years Foundation Stage. Reception use Mastering Number to deliver the EYFS maths number curriculum. This is a teacher-led session of 10-15 minutes to ensure that children develop fluency with, and understanding of, number that is crucial to future success in maths and academic progress more generally. The children are encouraged to have a go at the maths activities laid out for them in their continuous provision, inside and outside the classroom, which are linked to their maths session. Mastering Number teaches children to have a deep understanding of number to 10, including the composition of each number. Children subitise (the ability to look at a small number of objects and instantly recognise how many objects there are without needing to count) up to 5 and automatically recall (without reference to rhymes, counting or other aids). Shape, space and measure in Early Years is taught once a week, using a plethora of materials to support this teaching and learning. 

Year 1 and 2 are taught Mastering Number sessions for 10-15 minutes 4x a week as their arithmetic session. The aim is that children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. The teaching builds on what the children learn in Reception and is progressive. 

Mastering Number in KS2 focuses on children securing firm foundations in multiplicative relationships, as opposed to the additive reasoning which they learn in KS1. We want our children to be secure with multiplication and division as its application forms the single most important aspect of the KS2 curriculum, and of course, is the gateway to success at secondary school. We are following the professional development materials from the NCETM and teach this 10-15 minute session 5x a week. Mastering Number in Year 4 will set the children up well for their Multiplication Tables Check in June as all key multiplication and division facts are learnt and the children have a conceptual understanding of what they mean. 

Maths Mastery:

At Biggin Hill Primary School, we teach the National Curriculum by following a mathematics mastery approach, guided by the small steps progression of the NCETM curriculum prioritisation materials. It currently runs from Years 1-4 at Biggin Hill Primary School, although Year 5 and 6 teachers bring in elements to their lessons (they are following White Rose steps of learning). Mathematics teaching for mastery assumes everyone can learn and enjoy maths. Learning behaviours are developed such that children focus and engage fully as learners who reason and seek to make connections. Our curriculum design ensures a coherent and detailed sequence of essential content to support sustained progression over time. In maths mastery, lesson design links to prior learning to ensure all can access the new learning and identifies carefully sequenced steps in progression to build secure understanding. Examples, representations and models are carefully selected by the teacher to expose the structure of mathematical concepts and emphasise connections, enabling children to develop a deep knowledge of maths. In maths mastery, practice is a vital part of learning, but the practice needs to be designed to both reinforce children’s procedural fluency and develop their conceptual understanding. Manipulatives are used by children at all stages to enhance understanding of mathematical concepts, before progressing through pictorial models to conventional abstract methods. 

In our classrooms, children are taught through whole-class interactive teaching, which allows everyone to master the necessary concepts in order to progress to the next part of the curriculum sequence. The teacher leads back and forth interaction (ping pong style), focussing on questioning, short tasks, explanation, demonstration and discussion. Children are encouraged to use precise mathematical language to communicate their reasoning and mathematical thinking effectively. Live marking and flexible groupings ensure misconceptions are addressed early and pupils receive the support they need.

Support and intervention is provided to children, whilst challenging rapid graspers through more demanding problems within their year group. We teach ‘keep up’ maths sessions throughout the week during assembly/afternoon time so that the teacher can target those few children who just need that little bit more practise and support until they understand.

Times Tables KS2:

We use Times Tables Rockstars to help children improve their times tables both at home and in school. Maths is a big subject and we appreciate that there’s more to it than times tables and there’s more to times tables than learning them off by heart. However, a lot of the rich, interesting maths is all about the multiplicative relationships and these are hard to fully grasp without a fluent recall of the tables. For that reason, learning the tables is fundamental – they are a key facilitator to the maths that sits on top. We’ve always believed that, which was why we originally introduced our Maths Challenges.

When it comes to times tables, speed and accuracy are important – the more facts the children remember, the easier it is for them to do harder calculations. Times Tables Rock Stars is a fun and challenging programme designed to help children master the times tables and help them reach the goal of being able to answer any times table (up to 12 x 12) in under 3 seconds. 

TT Rockstars provides a fun and focussed way for children to practise their times tables. It is part of the school homework policy that children on their Bronze Maths Challenge or above practise their times tables daily; this is a fun and easy way for the children to complete this. When children’s heatmaps go green, they are awarded their ‘Gone Green’ certificate. Children also receive Rock Status certificates after they play 10 studio games. To promote the use of TTRS, numerous battles are set up between classes and the winners receive some extra playtime. On top of this, extra certificates are handed out to children for various reasons, e.g. most coins earned, most fluent, most effort. The children are encouraged to play little and often. The children’s times table ‘heatmap’ is sent home at the end of each half term so that parents/carers can see how they are progressing. 

Logging in to Times Tables Rockstars

1. Type ‘Times Tables Rockstars’ into google. https://play.ttrockstars.com/ 

2. Click ‘login’ - ‘school’ - ‘student’

3. Ensure the school is correct. There are two Biggin Hill primary schools that may come up so ensure it’s the correct post code of TN16 3LY

4. Enter your child’s username and password

You can also download an app for your ipad, iphone or Android device.

Maths Challenges:

A series of levelled weekly Maths Challenges enable pupils to demonstrate their number bonds and times tables knowledge. Success in these challenges is recognised by awarding badges to proudly display on their uniform. Children have opportunities to deepen their understanding through reasoning and problem-solving, both in mathematics lessons and other subject areas.