Maths

Maths – Intent Statement

At Pickhurst Infant School, our mathematics curriculum is designed to foster a love of learning and curiosity for mathematics, empowering all children to become confident and capable mathematicians. We believe that a strong foundation in mathematics is essential not only for academic success but also for equipping children with the skills needed for everyday problem-solving and decision-making.

Our curriculum aims to:

Develop Mastery: Provide every child with the opportunity to develop a deep, secure, and adaptable understanding of mathematical concepts, moving beyond surface-level learning.

Promote Reasoning and Problem-Solving: Equip children with the skills to reason logically, identify patterns, and solve problems creatively and efficiently.

Build Confidence and Resilience: Foster a growth mindset where children are encouraged to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and persevere in their mathematical journey.

Ensure Progression for All: Deliver a carefully sequenced curriculum that builds upon prior knowledge and ensures all children, regardless of their starting points, are supported and appropriately challenged to achieve their potential.

We follow a mastery approach that emphasises whole-class teaching, allowing all children to progress together through carefully structured lessons. Using concrete, pictorial, and abstract representations, we ensure that children develop a robust understanding of key mathematical ideas.  Within this, we support children through supportive scaffolds and challenges to ensure that every child's needs are met.  

Our intent is that every child enjoys maths and is curious about the subject.  We want every child to leave our school with a strong foundation in mathematics so that they can apply their mathematical knowledge in everyday situations and in other subjects.

Implementation

Across the school, we ensure that learning in mathematics is cumulative and progressive, guided by the White Rose yearly coverage overviews. However, teachers use their deep understanding of their students to tailor the content to meet each child’s needs and interests.  Maths is taught daily from Reception to Year 2. 

We inspire learning by incorporating a variety of engaging and age-appropriate stimuli, such as picture books, Number Blocks, and real-life scenarios, making mathematics both purposeful and enjoyable. Mathematical skills are taught sequentially, and children are provided with opportunities to develop fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving across all areas of the curriculum.

Lessons are carefully planned to highlight connections between mathematical concepts, ensuring coherence and relevance. Regular opportunities are built into the curriculum to revisit and rehearse previously learned skills, reinforcing understanding.

Children’s learning is supported through the Concrete, Pictorial, and Abstract (CPA) approach, enabling them to build a solid conceptual foundation. Mathematical vocabulary is explicitly taught and regularly rehearsed, allowing children to articulate their thinking and gain confidence in discussing mathematical ideas.

Our Calculation Policy ensures that mathematical concepts are taught progressively, building on prior knowledge and preparing children to develop efficient and fluent strategies for solving a wide range of mathematical problems.

By combining thoughtful planning, engaging resources, and targeted support, we aim to ensure every child experiences success and enjoyment in their mathematical journey and leaves our school with a firm foundation of mathematical understanding , ready for the next stage of their learning.