Burnham-on-Sea Infant School

'Nurturing Minds, Growing Potential, Enriching Futures'

Maths Curriculum Overview

Curriculum Lead: Alice Mills

Intent (curriculum design, coverage and appropriateness) :

Maths is an essential skill that enables us to live an independent life. It teaches us how to make sense of the world around us, whether it be: calculating the total amount of money we need to purchase items, knowing what time to meet a connecting train or weighing precise amounts of ingredients when following a recipe. Maths helps us to develop problem solving and reasoning skills that allow us to solve a variety of problems. However maths is also a creative subject and we encourage children to ask questions and challenge each other’s thinking to deepen their own.

Implementation (curriculum delivery, teaching and assessment):

Using the NCETM model of the 5 big ideas: structure, mathematical thinking, variation, fluency and cohesion through all, we have worked to build an ethos that maths is a practical, essential life skill, but also fun and accessible to all. We aim for all children move through the curriculum as expected for their year group at the same pace. We realise that it is impossible and dangerous to self-esteem and achievement to predetermine what a child is capable of. We take the learning in small steps that layer understanding using a range of practical resources and images to expose the structure of the concepts, leading to a deep, embedded understanding. Children will be expected to apply this learning to a variety of contexts and problem solving. Fluency and mental calculation strategies are developed through daily Number Sense sessions.

Impact (attainment and progress):

At Burnham Infants School we are passionate about Mathematics and its precise clear progression from reception to year 2. The importance of carefully scaffolding and layering levels of learning to build a strong foundation and ensuring that children have the chance to excel in Mathematics throughout the rest of their lives. At the end of year 2 a young Mathematician will have been encouraged to understand key concepts and have the basic grounding on the structure of the early number system—including the key number bonds, the four main operations and the basics of geometry, measure, and statistics. With this thorough start to their journey in mathematics they will be able to progress into the junior school with confidence.

The Maths lead at Burnham-on-Sea will;

• Help design the rolling curriculum map and then to monitor to ensure that units are being taught at the correct time.
• Complete learning walks, speak to pupils about their learning and discuss with colleagues successes and barriers.
• Available to offer subject knowledge and advice when needed to support teaching staff in their understanding and delivery of maths.
• Engage with professional development through Boolean maths hub.

Review:

October 2023