We teach mathematics through the new national curriculum, which is broken down into the following strands:

• Number – number and place value
• Number – addition and subtraction
• Number – multiplication and division
• Number – fractions (including decimals and percentages)
• Measurement
• Geometry – properties of shapes
• Geometry – position and direction
• Statistics
• Ratio and proportion
• Algebra

We plan and teach mathematics through a system called Loopy Maths, which consists of clear modelling of the concept, time to practice the skills and a range of application opportunities. These opportunities allow children the chance to reason and problem solve in a range of contexts and even at a greater depth.

Mental mathematics, including quick recall of key facts, is very important to enable children to become fluent mathematicians. Therefore, we teach children their number facts and then times tables.

Read more about the role of mathematics at Hillbourne Primary School in our Maths Policy.

Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject. At BPNS, we believe that maths is not taught as a rule bound passive approach but where active learning promotes talking through and explaining maths.

The national curriculum for mathematic 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 have conceptual understanding and are able to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately to problems
• 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.

Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which pupils need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas (so that pupils have a sense of living maths in a real life context). The programmes of study are, by necessity, organised into apparently distinct domains, but pupils should make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge to science and other subjects.

There are so many rich and varied opportunities to interact with mathematical ideas and concepts in the world around us, but often as adults, we forget this. Simple things like talking to your children about the days of the week, months and seasons, discussing money and time and looking at patterns in nature and the environment are all great examples of how you can help your child with maths at home. Additionally, practising mental maths at home, such as quick-fire times table questions and encouraging your child to play for short periods on apps such as Times Table Rockstars can help them to improve their mental arithmetic skills.