Mathematics

At Wilbraham Primary, we believe that maths is a tool for everyday living. It is a whole network of concepts and relationships that provide a way of viewing and making sense of the world. It is used to analyse and communicate information and ideas and to tackle a range of practical tasks and real life problems. It also provides materials and means for creating a new imaginative world to explore.

Our approach to the teaching of maths within our school is based on four key principles:

1. A maths lesson every day.
2. A clear focus on direct, instructional teaching and interactive oral work with the whole class and group.
3. An emphasis on mental calculations, number, times tables and number facts/compliments.
4. An opportunity for investigation.

Maths is taught daily in all our classes and it is our aim to develop with our children:

• a positive attitude towards maths and an awareness of the fascination of maths.
• competence and confidence in maths knowledge, concepts and skills.
• an ability to solve problems, to reason, to think logically and work systematically and accurately.
• ?curiosity, initiative, and an ability to work both independently and in cooperation with others.
• an ability to share their findings and communicate it to others.
• a willingness and ability to use and apply maths across the curriculum and in real life.
• an understanding of maths through a process of enquiry and experiment.

The Maths Curriculum

• We carefully plan and prepare our maths to make sure that all children are given opportunities for:
• practical activities and maths games.
• problem solving.
• individual, group and whole class discussion and activities.
• open and closed tasks.
• a range of methods of calculating e.g. mental, pencil and paper, in addition to using a calculator.
• working with computers as a mathematical tool.