Swaffield School

Maths

Our aims at Swaffield are that every child, regardless of background and starting point, can have a rich, meaningful and successful mathematics education where they develop their reasoning, fluency and problem solving to become confident, competent and able mathematicians.

Maths is taught at Swaffield School using the ‘Teaching for Mastery’ approach. Lessons are planned in a way that all children are able to make progress from their own individual starting points and small steps in teaching ensure no one is left behind.

The children are challenged to think deeper about their learning and use the correct mathematical vocabulary to explain their ideas and understanding.

We want children to leave Swaffield School with a love of maths; the small steps in their learning is helping us to achieve this as children feel confident to approach new concepts and make connections.

This "Language of Maths" Glossary helps understanding of different mathematical words and their meaning. 

 

Visit our Curriculum page which gives details of Swaffield's 2022/2023 curriculum for each year group.

Find out more:

Early Years

Children in the Early Years begin to develop their understanding of maths through play and discussion. The children have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding through conversations with each other as well as the adults, using maths specific language. Children in Reception take part in the Mastering Number Programme with the NCETM where they spend time exploring number to embed a secure understanding of Early Number Skills, which ensures they are ready for the Year 1 curriculum.

Number Fluency

The aim is that all children can recall number facts rapidly. This progresses from subitising in the Early Years (being able to recognise a group of objects without counting), counting, number bonds to 10 (e.g. 1+9=10), times table facts and beyond. By securing the rapid recall of number facts, the children are then able to access more complex areas of maths easier. Repetition and practise are key to develop rapid recall of facts and it can be practised in lots of different contexts, such as looking at money and other units of measure (length, mass, capacity).

Number bonds and mental addition and subtraction:

Having a secure knowledge of number bonds within twenty and strategies for mentally calculating number supports maths learning throughout the school.

In KS2, children are expected to rapidly add and subtract 1 digit numbers from any 2 digit number and have strategies in place to add or subtract 2 digit numbers fluently. These skills are learnt in KS1 and they provide a foundation for learning maths throughout primary and secondary school.

By the end of Year 1, pupils will have been taught their number bonds to 10 and should be able to recall them fluently and then apply that to be able to add and subtract within 20. They will have developed an understanding of addition and subtraction being inverse operations and that addition is commutative but subtraction is not. The children should also be able to double numbers up to 10 and halve even numbers up to twenty.

In Year 2, these skills will continue to be practiced and secured as they move on to calculating with larger numbers (2 digit + 2 digit) using different strategies to help.

Times Tables 

By the end of Year 4, the children are expected to know all of their times tables up to 12 x 12.

Times tables are taught in this order:

x 10, x 5
x 2, x 4, x 8
x 3, x 6
x 9
x 7
x 11, x 12


The children are taught about the commutativity of times tables, for example, 3 x 4 is the same as 4 x 3. This means as they progress through learning each times table, they have less facts to learn (e.g. by the time they are working on their 12’s, they only need to learn 12 x 12 as they would have already learnt the other facts while learning the previous times tables). The children are taught facts rather than ‘counting on’. For example, a child may be able to count in 4’s (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 etc) but a secure times table knowledge is to be able to answer what is 8 x 4 = ___ rapidly without counting on.

In Reception and Year 1, the children will be starting to learn number patterns: counting in 2’s, 10’s and 5’s. Although these are not times table facts, they are the foundation to learning them.
In Year 2, the children will then begin learning the language of times tables and division facts. They all have logins for times table rockstars that they will be given during Year 2 and this can be played at home. If a child in Year 2 is already secure in their 2’s, 5’s and 10’s then they can continue to practice the next set of table facts.

In Years 3 and 4, the children will start progressing through learning all of their times tables. They will practice regularly in school and are encouraged to practise at home. This culminates in the Statutory Year 4 Multiplication Check that happens in the June of Year 4. Having a secure times table knowledge by the end of Year 4, supports them in many areas of maths learning throughout Years 5, 6 and beyond.

Times Table Rockstars:
The children can play games practising their times tables. All children are given a login in school.
https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth/school/student/18545

 

Support and Challenge

All children are given the opportunity to progress dependent on their own starting points. Key to 'Teaching for Mastery' is that every lesson and sequence of lessons are planned around small steps so children are all supported and are able to move together through their learning.

Those who may need a little more support are given the tools they need to help them achieve the objectives – such as physical resources, drawings or additional adult support. Those children who grasp the new concepts a little quicker are given tasks that allow them to deepen their understanding and build connections between different areas of maths. Key to this is developing a good knowledge of the language of maths and being able to use it appropriately.

How can I help my child at home?

White Rose 1 minute maths app:
https://whiterosemaths.com/1-minute-maths

Excellent for practising rapid recall of number facts starting with subitising within 5 (EY’s) and progresses through the skills up to multiplying and dividing by 10, 5 and 2 (Yr 2). Children across the school can benefit from this app, depending on where they are with their learning.

 

Numbots:
The children in KS1 and Reception have a log in for this. They can log in and practice everything from subitising up to addition and subtraction of two digit numbers.
https://play.numbots.com/?#/game/game-mode

 

Times Table Rockstars:
The children can play games practising their times tables. All children are given a login in school.
https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth/school/student/18545

 

 Mathsframe:
A variety of games covering different maths skills.
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/category/22/most-popular

 

Useful documents

 

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/Blank-multiplication-grid.doc

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/Multiplication-grid1.doc

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/9-sided-dice1.doc

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/Blank-hundred-square1.doc

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/Hundred-square1.doc

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/time-www1.doc

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/_-multiples-decimals-parents-FINAL-VERSION.pdf

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/_-ks11.doc

/docs/Curriculum/Maths/_-facts-ks1-parents-FINAL-VERSION.pdf

 

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