Maths
Intent
We believe everyone can do Maths – no matter what their starting point is! We want all our children to develop a deep understanding of Maths concepts and a higher confidence in their own abilities. Maths is a priority at Connaught, with daily Maths lessons packed full of fun and challenge.
Have a look for yourself!
Implementation
Our approach to Maths aims to create strong, secure learning and real progress. It follows these three guiding principles:
White Rose Scheme of Learning
Our Maths approach is guided by White Rose Maths. We block our learning, giving us the time to cover all key concepts in depth before moving on. Every lesson is differentiated with four different levels of challenge: Base Camp, Climbing, Peak and Summit. Higher Skilled children are challenged with reasoning and problem solving, whilst Lower Skilled are given the time they need to truly embed their skills. No child is left behind.
White Rose uses Mathematical Talk to expose children to a rich and varied Maths vocabulary, helping them to unpick and explain their ideas.
Throughout the scheme, learners move from the Concrete (using resources), to the Pictorial (drawing pictures or diagrams) and then the Abstract (using symbols i.e. numbers).
We teach using Concrete and Pictorial methods when introducing new concepts, often showing the Abstract alongside before completely moving to Abstract only.
More information about the White Rose approach can be found here. https://whiterosemaths.com/
Impact
The skills all our children will learn by studying Maths will equip them for later life. We aim to create problem solvers, systematic thinkers and reflective learners, whose skills support them across the whole Connaught Curriculum.
Children's Quotes
"I really enjoying chanting my times tables. It has helped me remember so many and it makes me feel so good to see how I have improved each week." Charlotte, year 4
"I love getting onto the summit challenges so that I can work with friends to solve harder problems" , Edward, Year 3
"Maths is my favourite subject! I love applying what we have learnt to real life situations" Eliza, Year 6
"Muliplication is the best! I love using it all the time to solve problems!" Jack, Year 5
Securing Maths knowledge
Assessment at the end of each unit of work informs teachers of the gaps in pupils learning and their progress. Year Leaders are free to adapt Maths planning to best meet the needs of their cohort, focussing on the gaps identified at key capture points during the year.
These means planning is constantly being revisited and tailored to the needs of each individual learner.
We are committed to plugging these gaps at an early stage so children become secure learners. Children will become fluent in core skills by the end of Lower School, enabling them to move on to more complex Reasoning and Problem Solving in the Upper School.
Retrieval Practice
True Learning using Retrieval Practice
At Connaught, we focus on true learning and not current performance. We have embedded the idea of Retrieval Practice into all our Maths learning with daily early morning work, low stakes quizzes and quick maths games to ensure the children can accurately recall key concepts.
Our weekly Maths homework has an Arithmetic focus to enable parents to see the skills children need to practise. We ask all children to practise their timestables five times a week on TimesTable Rock Stars.
Regular practise and cognitive struggle all strengthen our children’s memories so everyone can tackle more challenging concepts.
How can you help?
How can you help?
Your support is vital to the success of your child at school. We greatly appreciate how much all our parents support and guide our children with their learning.
Timestables Rockstars
At the end of Year 4, all children across the country take part in the MTC (Multiplication Tables Check), a statutory online assessment designed to test their instant recall of multiplication facts up to 12 × 12—an essential skill for maths fluency. To prepare for this, children practise their times tables daily through mini quizzes, chanting answers, and participating in discrete lessons focused on specific tables. To make learning fun and interactive, every child has access to a Times Table Rock Stars account.
Times Tables Rock Stars is a maths programme that takes all the worry out of learning times tables and has a proven track record of boosting children’s fluency and recall in multiplication and division.
Homework
Each week, children are given arithmetic questions to provide regular opportunities to practise a range of skills directly linked to their classroom learning. Homework plays an essential role in a child’s education as it extends learning beyond the classroom and helps reinforce and embed the knowledge they have acquired.
Here are some examples of these maths questions:
