Subject Overview

How do we teach Mathematics?

Intent

At Eldon Primary School we view Mathematics as a tool for everyday life; a network of concepts and relationships which provide a way of viewing and making sense of the world. We aim to teach children how to make sense of the world around them by developing their ability to calculate, reason and solve problems. We foster analytical minds and confident communicators of information and ideas to tackle a range of practical tasks and real life problems. We therefore believe it is important to ensure all children have the best possible mathematics opportunities, including as a cross-curricular learning tool.

Implementation

Using the National Curriculum 2014 for Mathematics, the philosophies embedded within as well as its Programmes of Study, we 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 problem, 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 and mathematically.
• An ability to use and apply mathematics across the curriculum and in real life.
• An understanding of mathematics through a process of enquiry and experiment.

Impact

Marking is supportive, diagnostic and summative thus informing future learning. The children themselves engage in peer marking as part of their learning. They are taught and encouraged to check their own or a partners work. This fosters independence in the children, who can seek help if they are unable to locate and correct their errors.

Informal assessment takes place daily, throughout each lesson as an ongoing, diagnostic tool.

Teachers are expected to make regular assessment of each child’s progress and to record these on the data trackers.

Pupil Progress meetings at the end of terms focus on data and teacher assessments and target children in need of extra support and intervention.

The Red Rose Mathematics assessments are used as a summative assessment at the end of every term. The analysis grids to go with these, as provided by the Lancashire Maths Team, clearly show where there are any ‘gaps’ in learning.

Parents are informed of their children’s progress at the end of every term in termly reports.