Mathematics
At Cheam Common Infants’ we want to develop curious mathematicians who can spot patterns, make connections, whilst also being able to express their justifications. We aim to equip all children with the skills and confidence to solve a range of problems through fluency with numbers and mathematical reasoning. The three aims of the National Curriculum (fluency, reasoning and problem solving) are addressed during every mathematics lesson.
We believe that children should develop a deep understanding of mathematics through a progressive curriculum. Across the school, we use a mastery teaching approach called Maths No Problem! Children are taught key skills in a logical sequence. They learn new concepts initially using concrete examples, such as counters, then progress to drawing pictorial representations before finally using more abstract symbols, such as the equals sign. Additionally, children are encouraged to reason about their learning by exploring and explaining their methods in greater detail. This is a central theme in Singapore Maths where the learning is focused on achieving mastery rather than moving on to new concepts too quickly.
Active lessons and activities focus on depth of understanding and we ensure that learning always builds on prior knowledge. Children have opportunities to work collaboratively and independently depending on the task. Ideas are revisited at higher levels as the curriculum spirals through the years and into Key Stage 2.
