Maths

Here at Highgate Infant School we constantly strive to develop confident, enthusiastic and highly motivated learners who are forward- thinking, articulate, resourceful, and reflective young mathematicians.

When you are looking around our school you will see that we talk about maths as being ‘magic’ and that there is  a continued emphasis on promoting the enjoyment and celebration of the subject with children being encouraged to see themselves as ‘mathmagicians’.

In EYFS we follow the White Rose Hub mathematics scheme which supports a broad mathematical curriculum. The progression within the scheme allows learning to be built up in small steps throughout the year, whilst still providing some flexibility with how long is spent on different topics depending on the needs of the cohort.

For KS1, we plan our teaching around the National Curriculum statements. To learn mathematics effectively, some things have to be learned before others, e.g. place value needs to be understood before working with addition and subtraction. There is an emphasis on number skills first, which have been carefully ordered throughout the curriculum. There are many opportunities to revisit and build on skills. Colleagues work together closely to ensure that plans are well differentiated, purposeful, engaging and progressive. Lessons include a mixture of problem solving, reasoning and fluency aspects through both main teaching and independent and/or group tasks.

During maths lessons here at Highgate you will see the following:

• Teachers modelling and children working through the ‘concrete, pictorial, abstract’ models in order to allow individuals to harness, consolidate and internalise learning.
• Support staff working alongside our young mathematicians and supporting their understanding appropriately.
• An on-going programme of training of staff which allows them to continually promote correct vocabulary and good practice within the classroom environment.
• Timely, short, intervention groups supporting children to address specific gaps and requirements. Children are selected through regular and rigorous pupil progress meetings.
• Challenges are provided as part of our lesson planning sequences so that children are given opportunities to reinforce/ extend their learning appropriately.
• Our calculations policy is aligned with the KES Cluster and provides our children with a logical and structured pathway to learn and subsequently use and apply.

If you have any questions regarding the curriculum please contact Mrs Kirby at the school.