White Rose Maths
White Rose Maths at Prince Rock
Intent
At Prince Rock, we believe that mathematics is integral to all aspects of life and it is with this in mind we endeavour to ensure that children develop a confidence in their ability to approach a range of mathematical problems and make sense of our world. We aim not only to prepare our children for the next stage of their education but also to lay the foundations for successful lives after school and for the jobs of tomorrow, which will require great levels of mathematical knowledge and an ability to think in depth mathematically.
In our school, children are encouraged to explore and enjoy maths across the curriculum – bringing meaning and relevance through the interconnection of subjects such as Science, Computing and DT as well as many more. Furthermore, we aim to give all of our pupils, particularly the most disadvantaged, the knowledge, experiences and ‘cultural capital’ necessary to become educated citizens and to succeed in life. We aim to cultivate enthusiastic mathematicians by enhancing their knowledge not only through our curriculum offer but also our and enrichment events.
The aims of our maths teaching at Prince Rock are aligned with the three core aims of the National Curriculum (fluency, reasoning and problem solving): both in the mathematics lesson and across the curriculum. We recognise that pupils need to learn basic number facts and acquire fluency in procedures, alongside developing conceptual understanding if they are to be able to reason and solve increasingly complex problems in life and later in the workplace. As a school, we have chosen the White Rose scheme of learning to help us achieve our intent.
We aim to ensure that all pupils:
- Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics 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.
In direct reference to National Curriculum and Ofsted expectations, we will ensure that:
- Pupils acquire ‘core mathematical knowledge’ which will allow them to start to experience success and therefore begin to associate maths with ‘enjoyment and motivation’.
- Pupils have access to a wide range of fluency, reasoning and problem-solving questions, activities and tasks.
- The curriculum will be adapted to the needs of pupils and any gaps will be identify and closed.
- New content will ‘draw on and make links with’ previously acquired knowledge following a carefully sequenced curriculum that is ‘intelligently designed’.
- Before more complex strategies are taught, pupils should be confident using the linked facts and methods that form the strategy’s ‘building blocks’.
- Pupils will benefit from low stakes testing to ensure that they are well-prepared for assessments which will not only increase knowledge retention, but also improve pupils’ confidence in maths.
As a school, we have chosen the White Rose scheme of learning to help us achieve our mathematics curriculum intent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the White Rose link to the National Curriculum?
The schemes develop all three key areas of the National Curriculum, giving children the knowledge and skills they need to become confident mathematicians.
Does the White Rose follow a maths mastery approach?
The White Rose research-based schemes of learning are designed to support a mastery approach to teaching and learning and are consistent with the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum.
Will my child develop good number knowledge and skills following this scheme?
The White Rose schemes have number at their heart. A significant amount of time is spent reinforcing number in order to build competency and ensure children can confidently access the rest of the curriculum.
Can my child access work from older year groups?
The scheme support teachers to stay within the required key stage so that children acquire depth of knowledge in each topic.
How will the White Rose scheme help my children to remember previous knowledge and skills?
Opportunities to revisit previously learned knowledge skills are built into later blocks. The school also supplement the main lesson with the Flashback 4 starter activities to improve retention of knowledge.
What is CPA?
Research shows that all children, when introduced to a new concept, should have the opportunity to build competency by following the CPA (Concrete – Pictorial – Abstract) approach. This features throughout the White Rose schemes of learning. Please see below for more information.
How does the scheme help with my child’s oracy skills?
A true or false question for every small step in the scheme of learning. These can be used to support new learning or as another tool for revisiting knowledge at a later date. These questions are used by teachers at Prince Rock to help develop the children’s oracy and reasoning skills.
How can I help my child to feel positive about maths?
The White Rose scheme supports the school’s view that that every child can succeed in maths. In order to help with this we encourage a positive mindset. It’s therefore essential to help your child feel good about maths at home, too. For example, you can talk to your child about the maths they are working on in school and encourage them to show you the methods they’ve learned. There are lots of opportunities to help build this positive mindset, because we use mathematical concepts and procedures many times in our daily lives, often without realising that it’s maths! You could talk about the amount of money you have when you go shopping, how much the items cost and how much you have left after you’ve paid the bill. When baking, encourage your child to read the recipe and measure out the ingredients accurately, and when you’re travelling, discuss location and direction.
How can I best support my child’s maths at home?
Please see your child’s class teacher for specific advice but we do recommend exploring the White Rose home maths booklets. Below is a link to the useful resources which you can access online to help support your child’s learning.
White Rose Home Maths Booklets | Prince Rock Primary School
The school understands that teaching methods for maths has evolved over time; therefore, we would encourage you to watch the highly-rated 'Maths with Michael' mini-series produced by the White Rose as it explores and explains six key areas that parents often seek support with (place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and algebra). Don’t forget that when completing maths tasks at home, talking about how and why you found an answer is just as important as getting the answer right!
Maths with Michael | Michael Underwood | White Rose Maths (whiteroseeducation.com)
