Mathematics at Glade Hill

Mathematics at Glade Hill

At Glade Hill, we are ambitious for our pupils and know that having firm foundations in mathematics is key to success later in life.  Having a solid knowledge and understanding of mathematics opens up opportunities to study subjects at a high level including STEM subjects. We have this ambition for our pupils.   Additionally, we believe that through mathematics children can develop important learning for life skills including resilience, problem solving, reasoning, language development, making connections, pattern spotting, independence and logical thinking.

At Glade Hill, we want to develop mathematicians that:

• make connections between concepts, including pattern spotting, so they build and retain knowledge and skills.
• are agile between different mathematical structures so the most accurate and efficient methods are selected.   Including using concrete, pictorial and abstract approaches.
• learn key mathematical facts and skills for life including addition / subtraction / multiplication and division facts and have a strong number sense.
• are fluent, able to reason and solve problems.
• enjoy the challenge of mathematics and have aspirations and ambition for the future.
• are resilient when faced with mathematical problems and challenges.

Since the changes to the National Curriculum in 2014, Glade Hill have been developing a mastery curriculum alongside the textbook approach of Maths No Problem.  Whilst the pupils and staff in the school have benefited from this approach, a number of factors have contributed to the school making the decision to use Maths No problem as a supplementary resource going forward.    For the academic year 21/22, the school have adopted the NCETM prioritisation curriculum.    We believe that the prioritisation curriculum is right for our pupils at this stage of their learning.   We agree with Debbie Morgan’s (NCETM) mantra that we need to ‘slow down to speed up’ and feel that it is important to use the prioritisation curriculum, this academic year, so that children are not left behind.   Assessment information tells us that a proportion of our students have gaps in basic skills which we are identifying and prioritising using the materials.    The prioritisation curriculum has a sequential plan for developing mathematical vocabulary, which is an important aspect for the pupils at Glade Hill.

Alongside the prioritisation curriculum, the children in EYFS, Y1 and Y2 are developing their fluency skills through the mastering number project.  Alongside a daily maths lesson, all year groups from Y1-6 have a daily 30-minute maths blast to ensure new concepts are practiced and retained.  The mastering number project is taught during the maths blast in EYFS, Y1 and Y2.

The curriculum in EYFS is designed combining the Early Years White Rose materials and the Mastering number project.   Number blocks is used as a core resource, in-line with NCETM guidance.

In addition to ongoing formative assessments, the pupils are assessed at the end of each term using the NTS tests.  The tests are used to generate a standardised score to inform judgements about progress and attainment.  The arithmetic skills of pupils in Y2-6 are checked approximately once every 3 to 4 weeks with a test.

Intervention and catch up are planned to ensure any gaps in learning are filled.  The school uses Shine (NTS) and the Ready to progress materials to plan interventions, alongside targeting children’s basic skills using the Fluency project materials.

My Maths and TTRockstars are online platforms accessible to all children of the appropriate age range.  Home tasks are set weekly in mathematics and My Maths is used for homework and as a remote education platform where needed.