Core Curriculum
At Gledhow, we provide our students with an excellent maths curriculum.
In EYFS, we use the Development Matters Scheme and encourage a love for maths through play and exploration.
For Key Stages 1 and 2, we use the White Rose Maths Scheme and incorporate various challenging resources to make learning exciting and promote a deep understanding of mathematical concepts.
Our approach includes concrete, pictorial, and abstract methods (CPA), and we focus on times tables skills every day to improve recall speed and accuracy.
Enhanced Curriculum
We take maths lessons outdoors whenever possible to make use of our extensive school environment.
Throughout the year, we engage in various competitions such as International World Maths Day, Barvember, and times tables battles on TT Rockstars to promote maths.
We also have regular low floor high ceiling investigations to develop problem solving skills. Whole School Drop Down Days provide opportunities for all classes to participate in math-based activities.
At the end of the year, we celebrate our mathletes at a special event.
Below are the termly overviews for each year group, where you can see when the children will be covering each mathematical concept.
Nursery
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Nursery
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
To foster a love for maths and support learning, we use Mathletics for homework. This online platform challenges students to apply their skills through engaging activities and dynamic questions, allowing them to learn at their own pace and learn from their mistakes. The feeling of mastering a skill on Mathletics is unmatched and supports students' development.
Your child's class teacher will provide them with individual log in details for Mathletics, allowing them to access the website at home.
The teacher will assign specific tasks tailored to your child's ability, but they can also play mathematical games to support their learning. We encourage children to use Mathletics often to improve their maths skills.
Classes compete for the Mathletics Trophy and students receive bronze, silver, and gold certificates at weekly assemblies. Our maths leaderboard showcases winning classes and the Top Ten Mathletes of the week.
Calculation Policy
Here is our calculation policy, where you can see the different methods used in each year group to allow the children to secure the basic 4 operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Our calculation policy uses the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract approach, which allows the children to develop a deeper understanding of a range of mathematical concepts.
Times Tables
Knowing times tables is crucial for mathematical development, serving as building blocks for higher concepts. Regular practice helps children notice patterns and apply knowledge to advanced work, word problems, and reasoning. Speed recall is essential for primary school and the Y4 multiplication check, as well as advanced concepts in Years 5 and 6. At Gledhow, we prioritize times tables knowledge and speed recall, starting from EYFS and providing opportunities to learn, practice, rehearse, and recall facts up to 12x12.
By the end of Year 4, children are now required to know and understand the times tables facts up to 12 x 12. Their speed recall and fluency will be tested through a multiplication skills check.
By Year 4, children should be able to recall their multiplication facts up to 12 x 12. To help them develop these skills, children can log on to www.ttrockstars.com using their username and password. On Times Table Rockstars, pupils can practice their tables. They are then able to improve their Rock Speed and climb the Rockstar ranks! The online games reward children with virtual coins for each correct answer, which they enjoy spending on upgrading their personal rock avatar.
We carry out regular Battle of the Bands between classes and year groups, as well as other opportunities such as 'ENGLAND ROCKS!'
Bar Modelling is a useful tool for helping children visualise and then solve maths problems. Even some of the most complex problems can be seen much easier when represented visually.
Throughout November, teachers set a range of challenges for the children to try. Dojos will be awarded to children for excellent effort, perseverance and simply having a go, as well as those showcasing fabulous maths skills!