Numeracy

Mathematics at Sylvester

At Sylvester Primary Academy, Mathematics is taught in accordance with the Mathematics programmes of study set out in the National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2.

Aims - The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately;

• reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language;

• can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

At Sylvester, Mathematics is taught as a subject in its own right, and skills are developed through their application in other curriculum subjects. As a result, children receive five daily Mathematics lessons each week, but also gain regular opportunities in the other core and foundation subjects to practise, revise and further develop their mathematical and numerical skills.

Teachers closely follow the National Curriculum programmes of study as well as using the White Rose Maths Hub medium term plans as a basis for planning. Teachers use a wide range of mastery and greater depth materials, ICT programmes, games and puzzles to enhance teachings and learning.

Numeracy for Life

At Sylvester, we firmly believe that it is essential our children make strong links between mathematics and real life situations hence why numeracy for life is at the heart of problem solving and reasoning within mathematics lessons as well as across the curriculum. We believe relating mathematics to real life situations is imperative in ‘bringing maths to life’ and ensuring children find mathematical experiences meaningful.

Whenever appropriate, teachers aim to use subjects across the curriculum to develop pupils’ mathematical fluency. Confidence in numeracy and other mathematical skills is a precondition of success across the national curriculum.

Teachers develop pupils’ numeracy and mathematical reasoning in all subjects so that they understand and appreciate the importance of mathematics to their future. Pupils are taught to apply arithmetic fluently to problems, understand and use measures, make estimates and ‘sense check’ their work. Pupils apply their geometric and algebraic understanding to real life situations, and are also taught to understand the cycle of collecting, presenting and analysing data. At Sylvester, pupils are taught to apply their mathematics to both routine and non-routine problems, including breaking down more complex problems into a series of simpler steps.

Formal Calculation Methods at Sylvester (KS2)

Formal Methods for Calculation