Mathematics

Through mathematics, children learn to understand their world in terms of numbers and shapes. They learn to reason, connect ideas and to think logically.

Aims and objectives

At Forestdale Primary school, we teach for mastery. Mastering maths means pupils acquire a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. Achieving mastery means acquiring a solid enough understanding of the maths that’s been taught to enable pupils to move on to more advanced material.

Our aim as a school is to ensure our children:

develop a confident attitude towards mathematics leading to an interest in and enjoyment of the subject, and inspire children to appreciate mathematics of many cultures
develop awareness of mathematics in the world and beyond the classroom and in everyday life
develop an ability to think clearly, reason logically and to use existing knowledge to some problems
develop the use of mathematical vocabulary and to express ideas clearly and with confidence
develop an understanding of mathematics through investigation, enquiry, experimentation and personal discovery
develop mathematical skills, build concepts and encourage the memorising of basic facts
develop an ability to persist at a task, work accurately and record in their own way and a variety of formats
rehearse and sharpen skills during oral and mental calculation sessions
Develop an appreciation of mathematical patterns and relationships (numerical and spatial)
develop feelings of wonder, curiosity and increasing awareness of the aesthetic qualities of mathematics (shape, form, symmetry)

Key Principles

Early Mathematics

Mathematics in Reception classes involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces and measure. This is achieved through a variety of concrete resources and pictorial representations.

Times Tables

A priority at our school is to improve the fluency and recall of times tables.

Your children will be set weekly times tables to practise online and they will also be tested in class using Times Tables Rock Stars. Tests will be timed as well as given a score.

Certificates

Each week we will analyse the homework test scores across the school. The child with the highest score, fastest time and most improved time will be rewarded with a certificate of achievement in Monday’s assembly.

Stampers

Teachers will also give two stampers to the children in their class with the most correct answers, fastest rock speed and to the most improved.

Please click here to link to the Times Tables Rock Stars app, which can also be found in apps on our website.

Key Instant Recall Facts (KIRFs)

Part of our aim for the children at Forestdale is for them to memorise and recall basic facts. One way that this is encouraged in class is to have a specific focus within each year group for each half term. This focus is then taught and rehearsed through the mental starters and main lessons throughout the week.

Number Stars

Number star is aimed at all pupils from Reception through to the end of Key Stage 2. The aims of the number stars are:

To increase pupil motivation to learning number bonds, times tables, measure facts and the relationships between fractions, decimals and percentages;
To develop mental agility;
To monitor the progression of learning in the identified areas of maths.

There are 18 progressive tests and the objectives tested in each number star are outlined below. Every child will sit their number star test at the end of each half term – this will be a timed test where the children will be expected to achieve full marks in order to move on the next number star.

JADE

Read and order numbers to 10
Count to 20

CORAL

Read and order numbers to 20
Count to 100
Addition of number up to 10

GARNET

Addition of numbers up to 20
Recognition that addition can be done in any order
Count in twos

AMBER

Addition and subtraction bonds of 10
1 and 10 more / less than a two-digit number
Count in tens

OPAL

Addition and subtraction bonds of 20
Partition numbers within 10
Count in fives

PEARL

Doubles and halves of numbers to double 10
Be able to bridge through ten
Times table and division facts for 2x table

RUBY

Addition and subtraction facts within 10
Pairs of multiples of 10 that total 100
Times table and division facts for 10x table

TOPAZ

Addition and subtraction facts within 20
Pairs of multiples of 10 that total 100
Doubles and halves of numbers to double 20
Times table and division facts for 5x table

AQUAMARINE

Consolidate knowledge of the equals sign using facts from 2, 5 and 10 times table
Doubles and halves of numbers to double 50

EMERALD

Addition and subtraction bonds of 100 using pairs of multiples of 5 and 10 totalling 100
Addition and subtraction bonds of 1000 using pairs of multiples of 100
Consolidate knowledge of the equals sign using addition and subtraction up to 50

TURQUOISE

Multiplication and division facts for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables
Convert between familiar units of measure

AMETHYST

Multiplication and division facts for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables
Multiplication facts for 6 and 8 times tables
Convert between familiar units of measure

MOONSTONE

Multiplication and division facts for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 times tables
Convert between familiar units of measure
Understand remainders

ONYX

Multiplication and division facts up to 10 x 10
Multiply any number by 10 or 100
Convert between familiar units of measure
Understand remainders

SAPPHIRE

Multiplication and division facts up to 10 x 10
Multiply any number by 10, 100 or 1000
Convert between familiar units of measure
Understand remainders
Recognise the equivalence between fractions, decimals and percentages
Find fractions and percentages of whole numbers

QUARTZ

Multiplication and division facts up to 10 x 10
Multiply any number by 10, 100 or 1000
Know facts about length, mass, capacity and time and use them to calculate
Recognise the equivalence between fractions, decimals and percentages
Write as a decimal: - 1/10 (one tenth); 1/5 (one fifth); half; a quarter
Find fractions and percentages of whole numbers
Understand the use of brackets
Solve worded problems mentally

PERIDOT

Multiplication and division facts up to 10 x 10 and use them to calculate larger numbers
Add and subtract
Multiply and divide decimal numbers
Order decimal numbers and covert them to a fraction and vice versa
Find the highest common factor of a given set of numbers
Understand the use of brackets
Know how to find a number to the power of…

DIAMOND

Add, subtract and multiply fractions
Order fractions and decimal numbers
Relate fractions and find differences between fractions and decimals
Know how to find the square root and cube root of a number
Add, subtract, multiply and divide positive and negative numbers
Find percentages of percentages
Solve algebraic equations

Calculations

Please see below for an idea of what your children will be taught within each year group. We hope you find this overview and the examples useful in supporting your children’s learning at home.

Addition

Key Vocabulary: sum, total, parts and wholes, plus, add, together, more, ‘is equal to’, ‘is the same as’

Subtraction

Key Vocabulary: take away, less than, difference, subtract, minus, fewer, decrease

Multiplication

Key Vocabulary: double, times, multiplied by, the product of, groups of, lots of, equal groups

Division

Key Vocabulary: share, group, divide, divided by, half

Information and Further Support

On a termly basis, parents are strongly encouraged to attend our Working Together mornings. These morning sessions provide parents with information and guidance on what their child is learning in class and the strategies they can use in order to help them at home. Parents are invited into the classrooms to work with their child, with the support and guidance of the class teacher.

All children receive quality first maths teaching on a daily basis and activities are differentiated accordingly. In addition, where identified pupils are considered to require targeted support to enable them to work towards age appropriate objectives, intervention programmes will be implemented. Please click here for further details and advice on who and how to make contact with the school regarding any concerns or needs of your child.