“We believe that every child can master an understanding and love of mathematics with the right kind of teaching and support.”

At Richard Lee, we believe that every child should be excited by and talk passionately about Maths. The mathematical skills developed will enable children to grow and develop into critical thinkers and problem solvers. 

Problem solving is at the heart of our teaching of maths and real problems need real objects. Through the use of manipulatives, our lessons are exciting and interesting. Whether we are sharing slices of pizza or chocolate bars in our teaching of fractions or making equal groups with flowers, balloons, cupcakes or even sausages in our teaching of multiplication, our lessons use real-life problems as their foundation. Real life problems need real life resources!

Maths teaching at Richard Lee follows the mastery approach that is at the heart of the National Curriculum and is taught using a ‘Singapore style’. Singapore has consistently ranked amongst the highest countries in the international PISA tests due to their world renowned methods in the teaching of maths. Our maths curriculum follows the National Curriculum objectives for each year group. As in Singapore, maths at Richard Lee is taught through the use of the concrete-pictorial-abstract (C-P-A) approach, from Bruner’s enactive-iconic-symbolic modes of representations, giving our students a deep understanding of mathematical concepts. We use the 'Maths - No Problem!' textbook scheme - ensuring lessons build on one another in a clear, logical progression and problem solving and reasoning skills are mastered.

Each of our lessons flow through a number of core parts, and with additional fluency and consolidation and deepening activities, ensure that pupils:

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including 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

• have a high-quality mathematics education that provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, … and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.

• meet the expectation that the majority of pupils will move through the programme at broadly the same pace with decisions about when to progress based on the security of pupils’ understanding and their readiness to progress to the next stage. Pupils who grasp concepts rapidly are challenged through being offered rich and sophisticated problems before any acceleration through new content. Those who are not sufficiently fluent with earlier material consolidate their understanding, including through additional practice, before moving on.

The school’s aims are to:

• Deliver a rich and engaging mathematical curriculum, which supports the development of children’s fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills, in line with the National Curriculum 2014;
• To introduce new mathematical concepts using the concrete, pictorial, abstract (CPA) approach to learning where new skills are modelled with accessible apparatus, visual prompts and high quality resources;
• Use a child-led approach whereby pupils can take ownership of their learning and choose their own level of challenge. To encourage children to work collaboratively, prompting mathematical talk and developing rich vocabulary;
• Practice mental arithmetic daily through maths meetings;
• Ensure problem solving is at the heart of every lesson to apply the children’s knowledge of new skills and develop them into critical thinkers;
• To thread key values such as determination, cooperation and resilience throughout every Maths lesson, enabling children to feel confident enough to challenge themselves and learn from their mistakes

The National Curriculum aims in Maths are to ensure that all pupils:

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including 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.

Please follow this link to read the National Curriculum for Mathematics as outlined by the Department for Education.

Maths-No Problem! Scheme of Work

At Richard Lee we use ‘Maths No Problem’ as a scheme to support our mastery teaching of maths. 

All pupils have the potential to acquire lifelong learning skills when you incorporate deep learning techniques into your practice.

This curriculum is delivered across blocks of learning each with progressive steps. This ensures that each unit is covered in depth to achieve conceptual understanding as well as providing further opportunities for pupils to apply their skills across a variety of problem solving activities. The curriculum is also cumulative so that once a topic is covered it is met many times again in different contexts to embed and deepen understanding. 

Times Table Rock Stars

In order for children to be able to reason mathematically and to solve challenging problems, they must be fluent and secure in a range of basic number facts. These include number bonds, addition and subtraction facts and times tables.

Times Table Rock Stars is an online game which children love! They can compete against each other, earn coins to customise their avatar and most importantly it develops their speed and accuracy in terms of times table recall.

Year 4

Children in Year 4 will be participating in a weekly times tables challenge called ‘Sound Check’. This weekly test is very similar to the compulsory one they will complete in June. They can also prepare for this at home! Additional to maths lessons, your child’s teacher will regularly teach your child strategies to help them to recall their multiplication facts and will provide targeted tables for them to work on. The ‘Garage’ game is teacher set and encourages the children to develop their speed on a targeted set area they need to work on. Certificates are given out weekly to children who improve their recalling speed and move positions on the leader board.  

Across KS2

All classes across KS2 will use TTRS to help them to improve their recall of multiplication facts. Classes compete in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ to see who the ultimate Times Table Rock Star champion is. Children love working as a class to see who can answer the most questions correctly over the term and enjoy seeing their own speed improve.

Little and often is key to practising times tables. 5 minutes every day will be far more beneficial to our children rather than one hour all in one go. Children can play on TTRS on the computer and also on the app which can be downloaded to phones and tablets.

MyMaths

As a school we have subscribed to MyMaths. MyMaths offers interactive lessons, homework and worksheets for children to explore at home to support their mathematics learning.

Each child across years 1 to 6 will have their own username and password to access the site. Your child can explore their year groups programme of study; at times their teacher may set them homework to complete.

Calculation Policy

This documents the mathematical concepts and procedures encountered throughout the school’s Singapore Maths approach. The methods and the approach are tailored to meet the expectations and objectives of the National Curriculum.

If you require further support on the maths methods taught in school, please speak to your child's class teacher.

Parent Videos

Please also take a look at the Maths - No Problem! parent videos created to support parents.

• Fundamental Idea
• Number Bonds
• Subtraction
• Mental Calculations
• Multiplication
• Long Division
• Bar model 1
• Bar Model 2

https://mathsnoproblem.com/en/parent-videos/

Useful Parent Resources

Here are a range of other useful maths websites and resources you can use to support your child at home.

White Rose Maths Home Learning: a range of videos and worksheets covering topics taught in Early Years through to Year 6. Every lesson comes with a short video showing you clearly and simply how to help your child complete the activity successfully. 

Maths4All: worksheets for children in Years 1 to 6. These are matched to White Rose Maths and cover the same content taught at school. They can be downloaded for free from Amazon. 

Pupil Resources

Children make progress best as mathematicians when they regularly repeat skills and practice them until they become embedded. This can be quite a long process sometimes, and so the use of an exciting game or interesting activity can be highly motivating. In our experience, our children learn best when they are having fun and that's what games are for!

Early Years & KS1 Pupil Resources

Numberblocks

Aimed at nursery and reception children to help develop their basic counting skills. There is also a link on the website to BBC iPlayer where children can watch TV episodes of Numberblocks.

KS1 Top Marks

Lots of fun games to play with children of all ages.

KS1 BBC Bitesize

Games, videos and guides aimed at children in KS1. 

ICT Games

Free to play educational games.

MyMaths

This is an online platform children across KS1 & KS2 can use at home to complete extra maths across a range of maths topics! Each child has their own username and password to access the site.

KS2 Pupil Resources

KS2 BBC Bitesize

Games, videos and guides aimed at children in KS2.

kS2 Top Marks

Lots of fun games to play with children of all ages.

Maths Zone

A range of games aimed more towards KS2 pupils.

Maths Playground

Interesting logic games and helpful videos about a range of topics.

Top Marks - Hit the Button

Hit the button is an interactive maths game with quick fire questions on numberbonds, times tables, doubling, halving, multiples, division facts and square numbers.

Times Tables Rock Stars

This is an online platform children across KS2 can use at home to play multiplication games, earn coins and most importantly improve their recall speed of multiplication facts! Each child has their own username and password to access the site.

MyMaths

This is an online platform children across KS1 & KS2 can use at home to complete extra maths across a range of maths topics! Each child has their own username and password to access the site.

NRICH

Here you will find a range of Primary challenges for you to have a go at solving. 

Please note, although we have checked all of these links, please be aware that the internet is constantly changing and as such we accept no responsibility for these links. If you find any problems with them then please let the school know.

I am available should you require further help, support or information about mathematics at Richard Lee Primary School.

Mrs Darnley

Assistant Headteacher and Mathematics Leader