Maths
Curriculum
Our Intent for Maths at Horrington Primary School
At Horrington, the intention of our maths curriculum is to create young mathematicians who are confident and aware of their own knowledge. We want children to enjoy maths and experience the wonder and variety of problems and applications that it presents. We aim the create mathematicians (and learners in general) who are inquisitive, ask questions and relish the process of solving problems.
“Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.”
Bernard Baruch, American financier, philanthropist and statesman
We want their journey as mathematicians to be long, varied, exciting and to end in magnificence!
“The study of mathematics, like the Nile, begins in minuteness but ends in magnificence.”
Charles Caleb Colton, English cleric, writer and collector
We strive for high levels of academic success whilst also recognising that test scores are not the only judge of a greater level of understanding – we do not believe that the two are mutually exclusive. To this end, we have adopted a mastery approach to teaching maths across our school, adapting the long-term overviews within the White Rose scheme to create a sequenced and progressive curriculum for the mixed-age classes at Horrington. We strive to provide our children with a broad maths curriculum that has a balance of fluency, arithmetic and reasoning.
“Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.”
William Paul Thurston, American mathematician
Implementation
Our maths curriculum provides a variety of progressive concrete, pictorial and abstract representations of mathematical processes to children of all ages. We believe that these variations will develop a greater depth of conceptual understanding from an early age. Teachers model and encourage the use of precise, mathematical language from the beginning of the children’s mathematical journey, as we believe that embedding the use of this vocabulary is essential in creating confident mathematicians. We recognise the importance of children developing firm foundations and fluency in number and place value – and as such we have adopted a curriculum that places emphasis on these areas, taking small steps that allow the children to develop a deep understanding over time. Every year group uses a range of concrete manipulatives, as we recognise the importance of these, in aiding understanding of abstract concepts. Throughout all year groups, we follow ‘Number Sense’ (a progressive programme, following the pedagogy of phonics, that aims for every child to achieve factual fluency in additive and multiplicative facts). Children in Years 2-6 also use ‘Times Tables Rockstars’, both at home and in school, to develop their recall of times table facts. Milestones within this programme are celebrated within assemblies, ensuring that the subject of maths is valued by all, and that the profile of maths is continually being raised, at Horrington.
How can I support my child at home?
Times Tables Rock Stars
We use Times Tables Rock Stars to help our children consolidate their learning. Please encourage them to practice at home.
Maths Vocabulary
Please take a look at our maths vocabulary dictionary. We hope that this helps you to familiarise yourself with some of the terms used in Primary School teaching.
