Maths & Financial Literacy

Maths

At Hurst Park Primary Academy, we believe mathematics is an essential part of children’s development throughout school. We want the children to foster a love for numbers, problem solving and reasoning. We aim for all children to develop a deep understanding of fundamental principles whilst being able to apply these skills in practical and real life situations. We intend on delivering lessons through the National Curriculum, the EYFS Framework and the school progression map which:

• Gives all pupils, including SEND and disadvantaged pupils, the belief in themselves as mathematicians, developing resilience, independence and perseverance when faced with mathematical challenges.

• Recognises that mathematics underpins much of our daily lives and therefore it is of paramount importance that children aspire and become successful in the next stages of their learning, thus developing their cultural capital.

• Allows all children to be inquisitive in their learning and make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems.

• Ensures children are able to reason and use appropriate mathematical vocabulary to explain their answers to peers and adults.

• Develops children’s resilience to solve multi-step problems that require them to use different operations and processes.

• Helps children with their fluency skills, so they can recall key facts, and apply them to a variety of different problems.

• Provides equal opportunities for all children to apply their mathematical knowledge to other subjects (cross-curricular links) and to link mathematics to the wider world.

• Teaches different methods that will improve children’s understanding of mathematical concepts which will be continually revised, embedded and built upon each year.

Maths is taught daily in all classes from Nursery to Year 6 and the curriculum is designed to deepen children’s knowledge, skills and understanding of different mathematical concepts. Maths is also supported by cross-curricular learning in other subjects such as Science, Geography, Art and History.

Maths is taught in a coherently planned way; it covers the statements of the National Curriculum, as well as the EYFS Framework and is supplemented by using White Rose planning. It is sequenced in a way that allows all children to make progress. Through formative assessment, teachers check for understanding and inform teaching. Teachers consistently build in opportunities to rehearse knowledge, such as by using ‘Fluent in 5’ as a starter activity. Pre-teaching and same-day interventions are used to ensure children maintain progress. Explicit teaching of mathematical vocabulary helps pupils understand and remember more. Specific vocabulary, sentence stems and speaking frames are used to support pupils’ language which in turn supports their reasoning skills. Staff use a range of Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract manipulatives and visual aids to support the teaching of maths and to integrate reasoning and problem solving into their lessons. Challenges are set for the children to deepen their mathematical understanding. Technology is not only used to support the children’s learning but it is used to progress and challenge the children’s mathematical thinking, by using both virtual worksheets and digital manipulatives.  

Mastering Number has been introduced in EYFS and KS1 so that all pupils will develop their confidence and fluency in calculation and to ensure they demonstrate good number sense. Firm mathematical foundations are laid to develop children’s flexibility with number.  

Teachers develop fluency through practising key skills, repeating, reinforcing and revising; in Lower and Upper Key Stage 2, children complete weekly arithmetic tests to ensure this fluency is embedded for all pupils. Weekly FAST Maths sessions are in place for all children so that they can practise KIRFs (Key Instant Recall Facts) and Times Table Rockstars and Numbots are used to develop fluency in times tables and early number facts. The introduction of chromebooks from Years 1 to 6 means that children can access these websites and other online platforms, for example, Century, which enhances the children’s maths learning, as well as their engagement and understanding.

A Mathematics specialist is used to support Pupil Premium children in specific year groups and interventions and tutoring are used to pre-teach topics as well as to address misconceptions. Additionally, times table clubs are run to support children to become more secure with their times table knowledge.   

Maths Progression Map 

National Curriculum Maths KS1 & KS2 

Financial Literacy 

At Hurst Park, we foster an awareness of the crucial nature finance plays in everyday life. Our ambition is to create a culture where our children can understand and respect the value of money whilst making sensible financial choices. 

Within our curriculum offer, we will bring our finance lessons to life within many subject areas by linking financial learning to real life contexts, adapting teaching to the ever-changing financial climate the children grow up in. 

Learning will be delivered alongside our commitment to the LEO Pupil Outcomes by developing children’s financial literacy skills to become leaders and life-long learners. Furthermore, we want to equip children with the awareness that having and spending money is not the root of all happiness. 

We want to prepare our children to have a brighter financial future with an informed mind-set towards finance, leading to fulfilled, happy and purposeful lives.

HP Financial Literacy Road Map