Mathematics

Welcome to the Maths Page

South Marston understands the role in which high quality teaching of Mathematics plays in a child's education and how it will set them up to be a Mathematician for life. South Marston’s aim is for pupils to leave schooling with confident strategies for calculation and arithmetic, the ability to explain their reasoning and problem solve and a passion for Mathematics.

The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:

become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language

can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

In EYFS, children take part in maths activities based on the objectives set out in the Early Years Framework. Evidence and assessment is stored in children’s learning journeys.

The Maths curriculum that is taught is centred around the White Rose Hub Mathematics approach, and supplemented with other high-quality Mathematics teaching resources, to ensure we provide pupils with deeper knowledge and understanding of mathematical procedures and related concepts.

From Year 1 upwards, children have a maths book and follow the objectives set out in the National Curriculum (2014).

Year 4 Multiplication Check:

From the 2021/22 academic year onwards, schools in England will be required to administer an online multiplication tables check (MTC) to year 4 pupils. The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will help schools to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided. To support the children with their multiplication practice we use ‘Times Table Rockstars’ and ‘Hit The Button’ as an online and fun learning platform which also offer resources to be used in the classroom.

Your child is able to practice their times tables, using the format and layout of the real multiplication check using these websites:

https://www.timestables.co.uk/multiplication-tables-check/

https://talkingtimestables.uk/y4_ks2_mtc_practice_tests_multiplication_tables_check.php

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/477/Multiplication-Tables-Check

In order to support children learn their times tables, and also develop children's speed and accuracy to prepare for the Year 4 multiplication check, South Marston encourages children to access the Times Table Rock Stars website. All children from Year 1 have log in details for this website.

Link here: https://ttrockstars.com/

Assessment:

Throughout each lesson formative assessment takes place and feedback is given to the children through marking and next step tasks to ensure they are meeting the specific learning objective. Teachers then use this assessment to influence their planning and ensure they are providing a mathematics curriculum that will allow each child to progress. The teaching of maths is also monitored on a termly basis through book looks, learning walks and pupil voice. Each term, children complete a summative assessment to help them to develop their testing approach and demonstrate their understanding of the topics covered, these include: low-stakes arithmetic tests, mock SATS papers and NFER assessments. The results from both the formative assessment and summative assessment is then used to determine children’s progress and attainment.

The expectation is that the majority of pupils will move through the programmes of study at broadly the same pace. However, decisions about when to progress should always be based on the security of pupils’ understanding and their readiness to progress to the next stage. Pupils who grasp concepts rapidly should be challenged through being offered rich and sophisticated problems before any acceleration through new content. Those who are not sufficiently fluent with earlier material should consolidate their understanding, including through additional practice, before moving on.

SATS Assessments:

At the end of Year 6, children are required to complete 3 mathematics assessments. The first is based on mental maths and arithmetic, the final two are based on reasoning and word problems.

Although the Year 2 SATS have now been removed, the government are still providing schools with Year 2 assessment guides and tests. As a school and trust, we have decided to still use assessments and tests provided to support teacher assessment, to address gaps in learning, and prepare children for how to answer assessment style questions. As these assessments for Year 2 have been removed, these tests will be carried out unofficially.