Maths at Hawthorn
Children at Hawthorn have a positive attitude towards maths and enjoy taking part in their maths lessons. Teachers prepare engaging lessons which support and challenge the children. We believe in a ‘can do’ approach and mistakes help us learn.
We believe that all children, when introduced to a new concept, should have the opportunity to build competency by using a CPA approach.
Concrete–children should have the opportunity to use concrete objects and manipulatives to help them understand what they are doing.
Pictorial–alongside this, children should use pictorial representations. These representations can then be used to help reason and solve problems.
Abstract–both concrete and pictorial representations should support children’s understanding of abstract methods.
Please see our progression in calculation policy to see how we teach key concepts through this approach.
Maths Lessons
Maths is taught daily and opportunities are created for children to use their fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills over the course of a block of work. Teachers break the learning into small steps to allow children to access the curriculum and make links with prior learning. We encourage the children to talk like a mathematician through the use of STEM sentences and spot patterns within their learning.
In KS1 and KS2 all children take part in a daily maths activity, outside of their maths lessons and is usually completed in the morning. Each day is slightly different and focus on different skills, we have a ‘Number of the day’, two retrieval days which recaps learning from either the last lesson, the last block of work or work from previous years. We have a reasoning day which includes questions such as ‘odd one out’, ‘spot the mistake’ and a Friday is dedicated to number talk. This session allows children to discuss different methods for calculating and approaching problems.
In KS1 the children take part in a mastering number session every day which is 10-15 minutes and helps secure the children’s number sense.
We encourage the use of manipulatives throughout school and encourage the children to show their thinking using these.
Children use STEM sentences to help them talk like a mathematician and to help with key concepts.
Children are encouraged to talk during their maths lessons and talk partners are used regularly.
Classrooms have working walls which children can refer to throughout their learning as well as a display highlighting the times tables they are working on in class.
Early Years Foundation Stage
Work undertaken within the Foundation stage is guided by the requirements and recommendations set out in the Early Years Statutory Framework and Guidance.
At Hawthorn our EYFS class take part in the mastering number programme which intends for children to make good progress towards the Early Learning Goals (ELG), be confident in communicating their ideas and develop a positive attitude towards maths and a willingness to ‘have a go’. The sessions are designed to start from a point in which all children can access the learning and it is expected that all children will engage in the sessions.
The mastering number sessions cover all of the number work that will support children to meet the ELGs but do not cover measures or shape and space. There are four mastering number sessions per week and the fifth session will be dedicated to one of these other areas, as well as opportunities being available in the wider provision.
All children are given many opportunities to develop their understanding of mathematics. Lessons in the early years use concrete and pictorial representations to develop an understanding of mathematics. Children are encouraged to use, enjoy, explore, practice and talk confidently about mathematics using reasoning.
Maths outside of the maths lesson
Teachers are encouraged to make meaningful links to maths outside of the maths lessons and encourage children to identify maths in the wider world.
In Science children are taught how to collect reliable data and represent this appropriately.
In Design Technology children develop their measurement skills to help build, make and create.
In PSHE children are taught about managing their money and how to be financially minded.
The use of outdoor area has allowed teachers to take their maths outside including through using natural materials to explore shape, measures are used in our edible playground and forest area and children have used the grounds to support their statistics work.
Every Year we take part in Maths Week England where we plan a range of activities around a theme. We have purchased a range of picture books to share with the children which have a maths focus and all classes planned activities for Maths Week England around their chosen book.
The children also take part in TTRockstars challenges across the course of this week and successes are celebrated in our weekly celebration assembly. .
Every year we also take part in No Pens Day, and during maths lessons on this day they children always enjoy using practical resources and talking about their maths.
Below are some useful websites for your children to use at home:
https://www.education.com/games/math/?referral_url=kidsnumbers.com
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/22/most-popular
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/group/b08bzfnh
All children in KS2 have a login in for TTRockstars - if you are having any problems please contact the school office and we will happily help.
White Rose have developed a number of resources to support your child's learning of maths at home. They have a One Minute Maths App to help develop fluency in number facts
https://whiterosemaths.com/1-minute-maths
They also have free work books which you can access