Mathematics
At Orchard, children are aspirational mathematicians, who are resilient when faced with challenges.
Intent
At Orchard Primary Academy, we aim to create confident, well-rounded mathematicians and foster a love of learning and intellectual curiosity. Our key intentions are that children will be: fluent in the fundamentals of Mathematics; have strong conceptual understanding; know and use a range of procedures efficiently and confidently reason and problem solve.
Click here to read our Maths Policy
Click here to look at our progression document
Implementation
At Orchard, we aim to give children the strong foundations they need to succeed in mathematics. Children are given the opportunity to develop their fluency in mathematics through our strong focus on arithmetic and through our revisit curriculum, aiming for pupils to "keep up, not catch up". As well as a focus on arithmetic and procedural and conceptual fluency, pupils will be taught to reason and problem-solve, which allows them to practise their social skills; learn to be reflective and the power of making mistakes and make sense of the world around them, using mathematical connections. Teachers follow a carefully sequenced curriculum, which builds on prior knowledge throughout the primary phrase.
See the curriculum overview for each year group below:
Our revisit curriculum aims to give pupils the opportunity to develop and build on concepts throughout the year through spaced retrieval practice, with pupils revisiting place value and the four operations at determined points throughout the year. Teachers will use formative and summative assessment to plan these revisits to ensure pupils are keeping up, not catching up.
We strongly believe that all children have the ability to succeed in Maths and our approach to differentiation is based on enabling and extending pupils. Teachers adapt and scaffold mathematics learning to ensure children are able to access the learning at their level, ensuring all children are challenged in Maths. Teachers at Orchard have access to, and use, White Rose schemes of work; NCETM materials; NRICH reasoning and problem-solving investigations; Times Table Rockstars and Learning by Questions.
Impact
The impact of teaching can be seen in our children’s Maths books; on displays around school; on the school Facebook page and by speaking to our pupils. As a school, we measure impact through learning walks, book looks, teacher/pupil voice and formative and summative assessments.
The subject leader reviews progress and attainment on a termly basis. Interventions, training and further support are provided, as required, following these reviews.
CPA Approach
At Orchard Primary Academy, we use the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract Approach (CPA) to teach mathematics. This is a highly effective approach to teaching that develops a deep and sustainable understanding of maths in pupils. Often referred to as the concrete, representational, abstract framework, CPA was developed by American psychologist Jerome Bruner. It is an essential technique within the Singapore method of teaching maths for understanding of concrete and pictorial methods alongside the abstract, regardless of age and ability, and this approach will be evident in planning, lessons, books and the classroom environment. Children will be encouraged to use a variety of concrete, pictorial and abstract methods to become fluent in areas of maths, solve problems and to support their reasoning. Examples can be found in our calculation policy.
Click here to read our Calculation Guidance
Fast 15
From Year 1 onwards, all Maths lessons begin with a 'Fast 15'. The Fast 15 session is a 15-minute starter which focuses on key facts and skills. Children will independently complete a series of questions which focus on objectives they have previously learned in their current and earlier year groups and to target common mistakes and misconceptions highlighted in teacher assessments. Once the children have had time to work on the questions, adults in the classroom will mark the questions with the class and discuss the relevant/most efficient methods and strategies. Where appropriate, children will be invited to share and model their working out.
The aim of the Fast 15 session is to support children in becoming confident, quick and efficient with key facts and skills. Efficiency and accuracy with these skills will support children in their main Maths lessons and across the curriculum.
Have a look at the progression of fluency facts that form the basis of Fast 15 sessions.
Fast 15 and Counting Progression
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