‘Mathematics is a creative and highly interconnected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.’ (National Curriculum 2014)

The golden thread throughout our whole curriculum is the intent to improve health, raise aspirations and promote diversity. 

Our vision for maths ensures every pupil is given a broad, balanced, engaging and relevant curriculum that takes into account the requirements of the National Curriculum as well as the needs of our children and the community in which we are based.

At Croft Academy we believe the purpose of education is to provide pupils with the powerful knowledge required to take them above and beyond their everyday experiences and interests. By developing a life-long love of learning, a sense of belonging and resilience in our pupils, we aim to give them the tools required to live rich, fulfilling lives.

Our mathematics curriculum offers a broad range of experiences designed to provide pupils with the mathematical understanding, skills and knowledge needed to enable them to achieve their ASPIRATIONS, live HEALTHY lives and contribute to the DIVERSE world we live in. It embeds a deeper understanding of maths by utilising a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach so that pupils understand what they are doing rather than just learning to repeat routines without grasping what is happening.

Maths Vision Statement - Our Curriculum

Our Maths Curriculum

At Croft Academy, our maths curriculum is designed to provide children with opportunities to:

• develop their mathematical fluency in a range of areas through a concrete, pictorial and abstract (CPA) approach.

• apply their understanding to be able to solve problems in a range of different contexts

• explain their reasoning when identifying solutions to problems and when responding to mathematical statements

As a school, we follow the White Rose Hub sequences of learning to build children’s depth of understanding when teaching each mathematical skill. The blocking sequence has been adapted to suit the needs of our learners whilst still offering a broad and balanced curriculum. 

At the beginning of a maths lesson, children are exposed to a ‘flashback’ activity which will have been specifically selected to either address misconceptions or consolidate previous learning. This is to ensure prior knowledge is consistently drawn upon and children have a solid foundation in mathematics basic skills which can be built upon through the curriculum. This also enables children to develop a solid understanding of number and place value which underpins the mathematics curriculum.

CPA Approach

The Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract (CPA) approach is a system of learning mathematics that uses visual aids and concrete objects to build children’s understanding of abstract concepts.

At Croft Academy, children are introduced to new mathematical concepts through the use of concrete resources (e.g. numicon, dienes, cubes etc). They use the resources as representations of abstract concepts. When they are familiar with the visual/concrete aids, their learning moves to pictorial representations. Children are provided with models and images to support their understanding as well as children drawing their own representations. Finally, they are asked to solve problems and calculations where they only have the abstract e.g. numbers or other mathematical symbols. 

Times tables Rockstars!

When it comes to times tables, speed AND accuracy are important – the more facts your child remembers, the easier it is for them to do harder calculations. Times Table Rock Stars is a fun and challenging programme designed to help pupils master the times tables! To be a Times Table Rock Star you need to answer any multiplication fact up to 12×12 in less than 3 seconds!

 All children have now been introduced to the programme and have been given a username and password. If you lose these please see your class teacher or Miss Crisp

HOW TO PLAY

THERE ARE 4 DIFFERENT GAME MODES, WHICH YOU CAN TRY.

GAME MODES

Single Player 

Multiplayer 

Rock Arena

The Arena allows players to compete against all other members of their Band (their Bandmates would need to join the same game in order to compete together).

A new Arena game starts every 15 seconds and once the clock starts they race to answer more questions than the others. In the Arena, questions will only come from the times tables the teacher has set for the week, similar to the Garage. They earn 1 coin per correct answer.

Rock Festival

The Rock Festival games are open to players from around the world. Like the Arena, there is no limit to the number of players who can join a game; however, unlike the Arena, questions are selected at random from 1×1 to 12×12.

Pupils might choose the Rock Festival if they were playing at home (and therefore couldn't easily synchronise playing against a classmate) or wanted to compete against others not in their Band. They earn 1 coin per correct answer.

USEFUL LINKS FOR HOME LEARNING:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/ 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/ 

http://www.mathsisfun.com/