‘Every child is a mathematician’

Mathematics is essential to everyday life. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.
The National Curriculum for Mathematics 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 develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
• 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.

At Lapford Community Primary School, maths is taught daily. We foster positive ‘can do’ attitudes. We believe all children can achieve in mathematics, and we teach for secure and deep understanding of mathematical concepts through manageable steps. Teachers deliver maths in creative and engaging ways, following the programmes of study. 

Lessons give the pupils discrete opportunities to ‘talk through their thinking’ and ‘reason’ their maths. We believe that rich conferencing between pupils and teachers engenders the development of their mathematical knowledge and understanding. We use mistakes and misconceptions to help build on their learning and understating of mathematics. Teachers are encouraged to guide groups and tackle misconceptions and consolidate learning.

Pupils are taught, and encouraged, to make rich connections across mathematical ideas in order to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems.