Mathematics
At Cudham, we believe that every child can achieve in maths. The National Curriculum 2014 promotes a ‘mastery’ approach to teaching and learning in mathematics, which we in turn follow. The mastery approach aims to develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, so that the children can use and apply a concept to solve a variety of problems, by making connections across different areas of maths. Mastery also means that children are able to reason and justify their strategies, not just follow a step-by-step path to find a solution.
We use the White Rose curriculum and adapt it to meet the needs of all learners. The structure of the curriculum has been designed to enable clear progression through each year group, as well as creating explicit connections and crossovers between the different areas of maths. Our curriculum puts an equal emphasis on developing fluency (quick recall of facts and concepts) and then applying these skills to problem solving.
We have also worked closely with the National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (NCETM) and London Thames MathsHub which have provided high quality teacher development. This training has enabled the implementation of the Big Ideas of Mastery. Some of these key areas these include:
- Fluency of key number facts are an essential foundation children need to succeed in Maths. To support this, we follow NCETM’s Mastering Number programme in Reception and KS1 to support their understanding of number, and in KS2 which supports their understanding of multiplicative relationships.
- Children are consistently given opportunities to think, reason, explain and connect ideas through talk and exploration.
- We ensure children can ‘see’ the maths through use of manipulative resources and pictorial representations throughout all concepts. This allows our children to have a deep understanding of concepts and make connections to maths presented in an abstract form.
- Maths is taught coherently, through small steps, which have been carefully sequenced to enable all children to progress and succeed.
Reception
We want all children to love Maths, and this begins in their first experiences in school. In the Reception, we follow the White Rose curriculum, which has been designed to cultivate a robust foundational understanding of mathematics. This year is pivotal, as children engage in an in-depth exploration of numbers up to 10, ensuring they acquire a strong grasp before progressing to Key Stage 1. Children not only learn to count to 20 but will also develop skills in subitising—recognising quantities without counting individually.
To further embed fluency in number, we utilise the NCETM’s Mastering Number programme. This resource provides children with varied and rich experiences centred on number and place value. Additionally, we integrate opportunities to explore other essential mathematical areas, including properties of shapes and spatial reasoning. Our curriculum is carefully designed to provide a stimulating and engaging learning environment. Through imaginative activities and practical resources, we foster a love for mathematics, ensuring that each child not only reaches a level of confidence in their skills but also possesses the deep understanding necessary to thrive in their educational journey.