Lakeside Primary School

Mathematics Curriculum

Our aim is to enable all of our pupils to function as competent mathematicians in the real world as well as to develop awe and a love of maths. To learn why you need maths in everyday life gives the pupils a purpose to their learning.

Pupils learn to calculate using a range of methods through explaining their thinking. The use of mathematical vocabulary is encouraged in all lessons. The children have plenty of opportunities to develop their reasoning and logic through the use of problem solving and application of maths in their theme work.

Progression in calculation methods.

We follow the new National Curriculum expectations, using these progression documents as recommended by the Gloucestershire Maths Team:

Addition and Subtraction progression with apparatus

Multiplication and Division progression with apparatus

Where possible the children apply their skills to help embed learning. Emphasis is placed on promoting the use of mathematical language to ensure that all pupils can explain mathematical processes effectively. Mastering  skills and then applying them at depth underpins our mathematical curriculum.

It is vital that the children know their number bonds, number pairs and times table/division facts.  These are taught at school but practising them at home helps the children to have a speedy recall of facts. We use the commutative law (if you know 6 x 3 = 18 then you know that 3 x 6 = 18) – see Kenny’s Pouch for the facts which need to be learned.

Link to Kenny’s Pouch

Useful resources and links.

Woodlands website    http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/

Maths Games   http://www.learntables.co.uk/buypd.php?id=ccw

Coventry website     http://www.wldps.com/gordons/

Problem Solving

We directly teach problem solving and allow the children to work individually or as a team member. There are 8 widely recognised problem solving strategies:

1. Act it out / Make a Model
2. Trial and Error
3. Trial and Improvement
4. Make a list or table
5. Look for patterns
6. Simplify the problem
7. Work backwards and eliminate
8. Solve it algebraically 

Wherever possible, the children apply their maths skills within a theme to put their learning into context.  This stimulates their mathematical knowledge.