Emley First School

At Emley First School we strongly believe that maths is an essential for everyday life and children are actively encouraged to have a passion for mathematics. We believe all children can achieve in mathematics, and we teach for secure and deep understanding of mathematical concepts through manageable steps. We aim to ensure our children have access to high-quality maths curriculum that is both challenging, enjoyable and creates a love of the subject. Opportunities are given to all children to become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics and allows them to reason mathematically and to solve problems by applying their mathematics knowledge.

In order to achieve our intention at Emley First School we will give every pupil a fair opportunity to access the components and the composites of the Mathematics Curriculum Maths is taught using a mastery approach to deepen their knowledge. In our Early Years Foundation Stage, we teach maths in a practical way, giving real ‘Hands-on’ experience, problem-solving activities and logic games. Young children throughout EYFS and beyond learn through investigating, exploring, talking, problem-solving and quite simply ‘doing’ things.  Adults create a continuous learning environment that’s supports their growing mathematical understanding. In key stages 1 and 2 children follow the objectives from the National Curriculum. To achieve this, we deliver a mastery approach to the curriculum by following a concrete, pictorial and abstract model. Topics are introduced using a variety of representations and highlighting key misconceptions before they arise. Concrete manipulatives are used to introduce new concepts throughout year groups to allow children to physically explore their learning. This is followed by pictorial representations which allow children to make connections between concrete and abstract. Then children are competent to use abstract concepts. Opportunities are built in for children to master their fluency, key instant recall facts, reasoning and problem solving in each strand of the curriculum.

At Emley, we strive for all pupils to achieve their maximum potential, by having high expectations and standards. Our stimulating curriculum teaches core skills in maths, which is taught discretely and through the curriculum. We have a proven track record of supporting children successfully to meet their full potential through lessons and focused interventions, where necessary. Our children enjoy lessons and we believe this early love of learning stimulates children to become life-long learners. At Emley, children are regularly assessed through targeted questioning in lessons and through the outcome of activities completed in lesson time, which helps the teacher plan the next steps to be taught. Assessment data is gathered regularly and progress is checked by the senior leadership team.