At St Michael's we believe that mathematics is a tool for everyday life. It is a whole network of concepts and relationships which provide a way of viewing and making sense of the world. It is used to analyse and communicate information and ideas and to tackle a range of practical tasks and real life problems. It also provides the materials and means for creating new imaginative worlds to explore. Using the Programmes of Study from the National Curriculum it is our aim to develop:

• a positive attitude towards mathematics and an awareness of the fascination of mathematics
• competence and confidence in mathematical knowledge, concepts and skills
• an ability to solve problems, to reason, to think logically and to work systematically and accurately.
• initiative and an ability to work both independently and in cooperation with others
• an ability to communicate mathematics
• an ability to use and apply mathematics across the curriculum and in real life

Knowledge Skills and Understanding

At KS1 and KS2 teachers ensure that all parts of the National Curriculum Programme of Study are taught using a wide variety of tools including:

• Achievement Summaries (on Pupil Asset – an online assessment framework)

• Abacus resources

• Cold Tasks – designed to encourage fluidity between ability groups

• Mastery Challenges – created to stretch children of all abilities focusing on problem solving and reasoning concepts.

• TestBase – a tool used to generate online ‘exam style’ questions.

Breadth of Study

Through careful planning and preparation we aim to ensure that throughout the school children are given opportunities for:

• practical activities and mathematical games
• problem solving
• individual, group and whole class discussions and activities
• open and closed tasks
• a range of methods of calculating eg. mental, pencil and paper and using a calculator
• working with computers as a mathematical tool

The approach to the teaching of mathematics within the school is based on three key principles:

• a mathematics session every day
• a clear focus on direct, instructional teaching and interactive oral work with the whole class and group
• an emphasis on mental calculation

A ‘Discovery Maths/Active Maths’ session will also take place at least every half term. The session should include an open-ended investigative task whereby children work collaboratively and are encouraged to select their own resources from the maths area. This should be as ‘hands-on’ as possible and seeks to engage/ promote the children’s enthusiasm for maths.

Teachers of the Reception class base their teaching on objectives in the EYFS Development Matters; this ensures that they are working towards the learning objectives for Mathematics.

The Abacus medium term plans below are used as a guideline by teachers to ensure coverage of all the National Curriculum statements.