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MATHEMATICS
At Whiston Willis Primary Academy, we believe mathematics should provide the children with opportunities to have an understanding of the fundamental, basic skills that will equip them for future life both mathematically and through any problems that they may face. Through reasoning and problem solving, mathematics helps develop the mind’s meta-cognitive skills. Underpinning our teaching and learning of mathematics, we encourage children to take ownership of their individual learning and to identify areas for development.
We believe mathematics should be a subject that fills the children with inquisition to solve problems without a fear of failure, thus the focus of our teaching and learning pedagogy being on teaching a range methods and strategies to allow children to decide which is best for them, in order to reach their end goal.
Mathematics must be built on each year and so, throughout school, children will be following the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract way of learning, allowing them to be exposed to concepts in a hands on, practical approach initially. They will then progress onto pictorial representations before completing abstract calculations. This approach enables children to build a solid understanding of mathematical concepts and not just the secretarial process of completing a calculation – this is pivotal to allowing fluidity of new learning and to make mathematical links across learning.
We strongly believe all children should be given the same opportunities at the same time and learn the same content as peers within their age range. This enables children to work together collaboratively and support each other in their learning journeys.
Our expectations of achievement in Mathematics are high, we do not believe in putting a roof on any child’s learning – support and challenge are catered for within lessons by our highly trained staff through questioning, resources and tailored support.
Our Early Years department use the NCETM mastery approach and pedagogy of ‘oneness of one’, with systems similar to MNP that supports transition into Key Stage 1.
To deliver our Mathematics curriculum in years 1-6 we use the Maths No Problem! scheme.
What MNP say:
The Primary Series is recommended by the DFE for schools on the Teaching for Mastery Programme and is fully aligned with 2014 National Curriculum. MNP textbooks and workbooks are designed using decades of research to ensure a deep, secure understanding of maths in learners of every attainment level.
Based on the above information, we made the decision to use MNP due to the constant revisiting of key objectives and small steps taken to ensure the overwhelming majority of children can progress together. Additionally, it allows us to deliver Mathematics in a way that all children can understand the principles behind maths processes, allowing children to solve mathematical problems in a variety of ways.
Whilst small steps are key, and repetition of skills are imperative to MNP, each day the depth of understanding and skill required increases slightly. We decided, for our children, this enables children to not only build up mathematical knowledge and understanding, but allows them to do so in a way in which their confidence is increased.
