Maths Curriculum

At Bolton St Catherine's Academy, we are dedicated to providing our children with a rich and engaging mathematical experience that fosters a deep understanding of concepts and develops critical thinking skills over time.

The Mastery Approach

At Bolton St Catherine's Academy, we are at the start of our journey to embrace the Mastery approach to teaching mathematics. This method encourages children to explore and master each concept thoroughly. Our focus is on building a solid foundation, enabling children to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts. We emphasise problem-solving, reasoning, and the ability to communicate mathematical ideas clearly.

Collaboration with Maths Hub - Turing North West

To further enhance our teaching practices and ensure the highest quality of education for our children, we collaborate with Turing North West, our local Maths hub. This partnership provides our staff with professional development opportunities focused on the Mastery approach.

Through workshops, training sessions, and collaborative planning with experienced educators from Turing North West, our teachers are continually refining their skills and strategies for delivering effective Maths teaching. This partnership not only supports staff development but also enriches our children's learning experiences, ensuring they receive the best possible Maths education.

White Rose Maths, Version 3

We proudly utilise the White Rose Maths version 3 scheme, which aligns with the National Curriculum and supports our mastery philosophy. This structured and coherent progression of topics is adapted to meet the needs of our children and ensures that each one builds confidence and competence in their mathematical abilities.

Key Features of Our Maths Curriculum:

• Structured Progression: Each year builds upon the last, reinforcing previous learning while introducing new concepts in a logical order.
• Engaging Resources: Our lessons incorporate a variety of interactive and hands-on physical manipulatives and activities, making learning both fun and meaningful.
• Collaborative Learning: We promote a culture of collaboration where children can work together to solve problems, share strategies, and learn from one another.
• Assessment for Learning: Regular assessments help us track progress and ensure that all children are mastering the material at their own pace. We have the philosophy of keeping up, so we don't have to catch up.

Curriculum Overview

Our curriculum covers key areas of mathematics as outlined in the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2:

• Number and Place Value
• Addition and Subtraction
• Multiplication and Division
• Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages
• Measurement
• Geometry
• Statistics

The aims of the National Curriculum for mathematics at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are to ensure that all children:

• Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics: This includes the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.
• Develop conceptual understanding and the ability to solve problems: Children are encouraged to apply their mathematical knowledge to a variety of contexts.
• Reason mathematically: Children learn to follow a line of inquiry, justify their reasoning, and develop a rich vocabulary to communicate their thoughts.

Through these aims, we strive to instill a love for mathematics, the importance and role mathematics plays in the wider world of employment and nature and the equip the children with the confidence to tackle challenges head-on.

Early Years and Key Stage 1: NCETM Mastering Number

In addition to our core curriculum, we provide extra maths input for our Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception Class) and Key Stage 1 children through the NCETM Mastering Number programme. This initiative focuses on developing fluency and confidence in early number skills, laying the groundwork for future mathematical learning.

Mastering Number Outline

The Mastering Number programme includes:

• Subitising: Recognising small quantities without counting (e.g., seeing three dots on a dice and instantly knowing it’s three).
• Number Sense: Developing an intuitive understanding of numbers, including comparing, ordering, and partitioning.
• Patterns and Relationships: Exploring number patterns to enhance mathematical reasoning.
• Fluency with Numbers: Building rapid recall of number facts and simple calculations.

Benefits of the Programme

Engaging with the Mastering Number programme helps children to:

• Develop Confidence: By mastering essential number skills early on, children gain confidence in their mathematical abilities.
• Enhance Problem-Solving Skills: The focus on reasoning and patterns fosters critical thinking and the ability to approach mathematical challenges effectively.
• Achieve Greater Fluency: Regular practice and reinforcement help students become fluent in their number skills, making future learning smoother and more enjoyable.

Supporting Your Child at Home

We encourage parents and carers to be actively involved in their child's mathematical journey. Simple activities such as counting items during shopping trips, measuring ingredients while cooking, or playing number games can significantly enhance your child's understanding and enjoyment of maths.

On the right hand side of this webpage you will see links to downloadable workbooks for use at home - these can be done electronically on a laptop or tablet and do not have to be printed, although you do have the option to print the booklet out if you wish.

Supporting Your Child at Home - Reception and Key Stage 1

Parents and carers play a vital role in reinforcing these skills at home. Here are some ways you can support your child’s mathematical development:

• Practice Subitising: Use dice or playing cards with dots. Ask your child to identify the number of dots without counting them.
• Play Number Games: Engage in games that involve counting and number recognition, like board games or card games.
• Incorporate Maths into Daily Activities: Count items during shopping trips, measure ingredients while cooking, or compare quantities of different objects.
• Encourage Pattern Recognition: Create patterns with everyday items (like colored blocks or beads) and ask your child to continue or identify the patterns.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us nurture a generation of confident and capable mathematicians. If you have any questions about our Maths Curriculum or how to support your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

The Senior Lead for maths is Mr Hill and can be contacted through Class Dojo.

Together, let’s make maths an exciting adventure at Bolton St Catherine's Academy!