Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that is essential to everyday life. It is critical to science, technology, engineering, and crucial for financial literacy and most forms of employment. At TGPASJ we believe that a high-quality mathematics education provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the beauty and power of mathematics. We aim to pursue mastery in mathematics 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 Tudor Grange Primary Academy St James, we recognise that in order for pupils to progress to deeper and more complex problems, children need to be confident and fluent across each yearly objective. We follow the learning sequences of ‘White Rose Maths’, focusing on the use of ‘episodic’ teaching to develop more independent learners and a deeper understanding of key maths concepts. Within the learning sequences, each National Curriculum objective is broken down into smaller steps. Children are guided through the lesson at the same pace but with scaffolding and challenge to suit all needs. Our teachers use the White Rose schemes of learning in conjunction with a range of high-quality resources such as the NCETM PD materials and and I see Reasoning resources to support, stretch and challenge all learners within the classroom. 

Mastering Number (Reception and Key Stage 1)

Tudor Grange Primary Academy St James is taking part in the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) project to support the teaching of basic maths skills in our school. This project aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim over time is that children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. Attention has been given to key knowledge and understanding needed in Reception classes, and progression through KS1 to support success in the future. Over the year, the children will experience using a range of resources and representations, including a small abacus-like piece of equipment called a rekenrek. We will be following the Mastering Number Programme with our Reception Year 1 and Year 2 children.

DOWNLOAD: Calculation Policy