Springwell Mathematician

Springwell School

The Springwell Mathematician

Intent

All pupils should become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and are able to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately to problems. (National Curriculum, 2014)

At the centre of Springwell’s approach to mathematics is the belief that all pupils have the potential to succeed. They should have access to the same curriculum content and, rather than being extended with new learning, they should deepen their thinking further by tackling challenging and varied problems through reasoning. Similarly with calculation strategies, pupils must not simply rote learn procedures but demonstrate their understanding of those mathematical concepts through the use of concrete materials, pictorial representations and in the abstract form.

The procedure of the concrete-pictorial-abstract (CPA) approach is central to mathematics teaching at Springwell School. The principle of the CPA approach is that for all pupils to have a true understanding of a mathematical concept, they need to master all three phases. The reinforcement of skills and concepts is achieved by going back and forth between these representations. Pupils who demonstrate they have grasped concepts rapidly should be challenged by transferring and applying their mathematical understanding in different contexts rather than accelerating through new content. Pupils who require more time to develop their fluency should spend time consolidating their understanding, including additional practice, before moving on. At Springwell, teachers focus on the development of deep structural knowledge connected to previous learning. Making connections in mathematics deepens knowledge of concepts and procedures, ensuring what is learnt is sustained over time, and cuts down the time required to assimilate and master later concepts and techniques. We do not follow a scheme of learning; instead we utilise and adapt the best resources available including NCETM resources, NRICH and White Rose Mathematics.

Implementation

At Springwell School, maths is viewed as an essential tool in understanding the world around us. In pursuit of this vision, our maths curriculum is built on the foundation of a strong understanding of logical reasoning, problem solving skills and the ability to think in divergent and abstract ways.

Children develop a strong sense of well-being when they solve a problem accurately for the first time, discover a more efficient solution or suddenly recognise unseen connections. Through the progressive and dynamic curriculum, our aim is to provide children with the skills necessary for developing resilience, not simply for academic pursuits but for navigating everyday life situations.

Strong cross-curricular links ensure pupils are encouraged to identify and recognise its fundamental place in art, music and nature. A strategic, creative and practical approach to teaching maths supports children in discovering that maths is the building block for everything in our daily lives, including mobile devices, architecture (ancient and modern), art, money, engineering, and even sports.

Curriculum Coverage

The curriculum follows a progression of skills throughout the children’s time at Springwell.

Over the next few pages you will find the progression of skills for each phase. Place Value

Curriculum Coverage

Number: Addition and Subtraction

Curriculum Coverage

Number: Multiplication and Division

Curriculum Coverage

Number: Fractions, Decimals and Percentages

Curriculum Coverage Algebra Measure

Geometry

Curriculum Coverage

Statistics

A Springwell Mathematician (Impact)

A Springwell Mathematician is someone who is able to apply their maths knowledge to enable them to access the world around them.

Our teachers plan lessons with the intention of igniting enthusiasm and passion for the subject within the children, while our “homemade” long term plan provides the children with the tools to understand the world around them.

As Springwell Mathematicians, our children develop their fluency in recalling and applying skills accurately, providing them with the foundation to deepen their understanding of a skill through problem solving and reasoning. Children are encouraged to give evidence and prove mathematical theories using evidence and correct mathematical language.

Learners are taught using the CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) approach. Springwell mathematicians will begin working with concrete manipulatives, before moving to work with pictorial representations and then being introduced to the abstract representations. As a Springwell Mathematician progresses through the curriculum they will spend less time at the concrete and pictorial starting point, drawing on previous learning.

Assessment

Children are assessed by the professionals working with them throughout each lesson as they move through the key mathematical topics (number, geometry, measures etc.). This allows ongoing assessments to be made while delivering high quality, effective feedback.

Our Long Term Plans provide year groups with a specific set of objectives with which to assess pupils fluency in arithmetic, reasoning and problem solving.

Marking, both verbal and written, enable teachers to directly guide children through scaffolds, challenges and consolidation.

Other forms of assessment:

• Termly progress tests

• Weekly Times Table Challenge

• Daily fluid in 5

• KS1 SATS

• KS2 SATS

• Year 4 Multiplication Test