Maths

Mathematics is a creative and highly interconnected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject. 

(The National Curriculum, 2014)

At St Chad’s, we aim to cultivate a deep understanding and love of mathematics in every child, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and resilience to apply mathematical concepts in real-world contexts. Our mastery-based curriculum is designed to develop secure foundations in mathematical understanding, reasoning, and problem-solving. Emphasising depth over acceleration, children are supported to fully explore concepts within their year group, ensuring they build robust knowledge that can be applied flexibly.

We focus on:

  • Fluency: Developing speed and accuracy in mathematical recall and calculation.
  • Reasoning: Encouraging children to explain their thinking and justify their answers using mathematical vocabulary.
  • Problem-Solving: Providing opportunities to tackle rich, challenging problems that develop persistence and critical thinking.

 Through the use of the White Rose Maths scheme and our carefully tailored St Chad’s progression document, we ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum objectives. Teaching follows a structured progression of small, connected steps, building on prior knowledge and addressing gaps and misconceptions through timely interventions. By nurturing curiosity, perseverance, and a growth mindset, we aim to inspire confident, independent mathematicians prepared to succeed at every stage of their learning journey.

Mathematics is taught daily for 50 minutes in Key Stage 1 and 30 minutes in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In addition, all year groups have a daily 10-minute "Phonics of Maths" session, focusing on fluency and consolidating prior learning. On Fridays, an additional 30-minute session is allocated for pre- or post-teaching opportunities, delivered to either the whole class or targeted groups.

Maths lessons follow the White Rose Maths small steps, a mastery programme aligned with the National Curriculum and the EYFS framework. The approach emphasises fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving, while also encouraging exploration, play, and hands-on learning.

Manipulatives are available at all times, with teachers modelling their use during lessons. These are displayed on working walls for easy reference. In EYFS, manipulatives used during teacher input are accessible in the maths area, supporting exploration during continuous provision. All staff are trained in using Numicon, alongside other resources like Dienes, cubes, and counters. Year group-specific vocabulary is embedded in teaching and referenced in progression grids to ensure consistent use and understanding. 

At St Chad’s, our mathematics curriculum ensures children develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, equipping them with the skills to apply their knowledge in a variety of contexts. By the end of Key Stage 1, pupils will demonstrate fluency in number bonds, counting, place value, and a secure understanding of the four operations. They will approach mathematical challenges confidently, using reasoning to justify their thinking. The Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract (CPA) approach fosters resilience, curiosity, and a growth mindset, ensuring children view mathematics as an exciting and valuable subject.

We measure success through ongoing formative and summative assessments, including termly PUMA assessments, which track progress and inform next steps. Pupil voice provides insight into children's understanding and confidence, while outcomes in books reflect progression and application of skills. The strong foundations established in the Early Years Foundation Stage support a seamless transition to the Key Stage 1 curriculum and continued success as children progress in their mathematical learning.

 

Phonics of Maths

At St Chad’s, we recognise the vital role of daily "Phonics of Maths" sessions in equipping our children with the skills, confidence and fluency needed to become successful mathematicians.

These short, focused sessions are designed to embed key mathematical concepts through regular repetition and retrieval practice, enabling children to know more and remember more.

Teachers use these sessions as an opportunity to revisit previous learning through ‘flashback’ questions — a series of quick, purposeful prompts that encourage children to retrieve and apply what they’ve already been taught. This supports long-term retention and ensures that foundational knowledge remains secure.

In addition, these sessions can also be used as a pre-teach to upcoming learning, allowing teachers to identify and address any gaps in understanding and ensure that pupils are ready to build on what they already know.

  • In Key Stage 1, sessions make regular use of the 100 square and focus on fluency with number facts and the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). This daily practice strengthens mental arithmetic and confidence with number.

  • In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the focus is on numbers to 20, with an emphasis on subitising, pattern recognition, and developing deep number sense. Children are encouraged to talk about what they see, explain their thinking, and make connections between numbers and quantities.

 A copy of our Maths Progression can be found here: 

Early Years Foundation Stage Maths 
Our Reception children follow the scheme White Rose, through an adult-led daily math sessions. Resources from this session are then left in the environment for children to explore, and consolidate their learning. We have a dedicated maths area within the classroom, however children are encouraged to use maths in all areas of the environment. For example, in the home corner measuring ingredients when they are cooking. 
 
To further enhance our maths provision, and children's understanding of mathematical concepts, we use  storybooks and nursery rhymes within our teaching. Please see the Mathematical Reading Spine below for more information. 
 

At St Chad’s, our Maths Working Walls are designed to act as another adult in the room — a supportive and interactive learning tool that helps children become independent, reflective, and resilient mathematicians.

Each working wall is carefully built throughout a unit and reflects the current learning journey. It is both a reference point and a source of inspiration for all pupils. The features of our working walls include:

  • The current learning objective – clearly displayed so children understand what they are learning and why.

  • Concrete, pictorial, and abstract representations – depending on where children are in the sequence of learning, these models help to make abstract concepts accessible and meaningful.

  • Key mathematical vocabulary – prominently displayed and referred to regularly by both teachers and children, ensuring that subject-specific language is embedded in everyday talk.

  • ‘Maths Experts’ examples – high-quality work completed by children in the class (from current or previous units), chosen to model strong mathematical thinking and presentation.

  • A reasoning question of the week – designed to deepen thinking and spark discussion, this question is updated weekly and encourages children to leave written responses and build on each other’s ideas.

Our working walls are dynamic and evolving, supporting children in making connections, revisiting prior learning, and developing their ability to explain, justify, and apply their understanding.

Supporting Your Child with Maths

Maths is a part of everyday life, and it’s important for children to see how it fits into their world. You can start with simple activities like counting the stairs as you go up, spotting house numbers on your walk, or looking for shapes in the environment. Singing number songs is another fun way to introduce numbers and develop early maths skills.

At school, we offer maths packs that include number cards and other resources to support learning at home. If you’d like one, please speak to your child’s class teacher. 

Some useful websites you can use are: