Maths

How we Teach Maths at Green Gates Primary School

Arithmetic

As soon as children begin their learning journey at Green Gates Primary School, they are taught early number skills through songs and rhymes. From Reception onwards, they join small group daily number sessions in order to develop their mathematical fluency and knowledge. Children in Reception and KS1 follow a systematic programme called Mastering Number.

What is Mastering Number? 

Mastering Number is a structured, systematic maths programme. It teaches children to understand the place value of numbers to 20, add and subtract with automaticity and embeds early number skills. The children take part in a daily session as part of a whole class. The session is 15 minutes long and includes recap, teach and practice elements with a focus around Numberblocks.

Why do we use Mastering Number? 

We use Mastering Number because it gives children a strong foundation in early number in addition to building automaticity and fluency with basic number skills. The programme is supported by the maths hub and training is provided for staff within school. It builds confidence, supports progress and ensures consistency in how early number is taught across our school. The programme is well-structured and ensures that children have the opportunity to embed skills before moving on.

Who follows the programme? 

Mastering Number is followed by children in Reception and Key Stage 1, as well as any older children who still need support with basic number skills or those who need additional support developing fluency. Children are taught in class groups and are split into the same mixed ability pairs. There are lots of opportunities for mathematical talk during the daily sessions and stem sentences and phrases are used to develop the children’s vocabulary.

When the children move into KS2, they develop fluency through daily calculations lessons. These are 15 minutes each day where children must complete 10 arithmetic questions in a given time. These are progressive and linked to prior learning. The children chant the answers as a class at the end of the given time and self-mark their work.

Reasoning

All lessons in KS1 and KS2 follow the same structure. Staff use PowerPoints to support teaching. Each lesson starts with a prior knowledge check, followed by a vocabulary check. Lessons follow the I do, We do, You do’ approach to support learning.

Children have lots of opportunities to practice their fluency and then move onto deeper thinking. The children are encouraged to explain their understanding and have higher level thinking within their year group aims, rather than moving onto harder or larger numbers. Children have a wealth of opportunity to develop their reasoning skills, and stem sentences are used to support their mathematical talk.

Every two weeks, the children in KS1 and KS2 complete ‘Flashback Friday’. This enables the children to revisit prior learning and ensures that concepts are constantly revisited.