Maths
We believe all children can become confident and competent mathematicians through small step progression and developing mathematical fluency. Through ‘Maths No Problem!’, our children nurture a love for mathematics and are encouraged to journal their mathematical thinking to demonstrate a deep understanding.
At Preston, we teach maths through ‘Maths No Problem!’, which is based upon the maths mastery approach. We teach through the maths mastery approach because it provides pupils with a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of mathematics by building mathematical competence through small step progression. Through engaging lessons, hands-on problem-solving, and collaborative discussions, our pupils are encouraged to think critically and creatively to solve and understand mathematical problems. Journaling is a key feature of our approach, allowing children to record and reflect on their mathematical thinking. This not only deepens their understanding but also helps them articulate their ideas with clarity and confidence.
Our focus through our maths mastery curriculum is that children can solve mathematical problems in a variety of ways, through journaling. We encourage all children to explore their own mathematical understanding, and in doing so, develop their arithmetical proficiency, reasoning and problem-solving skills. We aim for our pupils to be confident and competent mathematicians who understand the relevance of maths to everyday life. This inclusive approach and its emphasis on promoting multiple methods of solving a single problem builds self-confidence and resilience in our pupils. By fostering resilience and a growth mindset, we aim to inspire every child to embrace challenges, enjoy success, and carry their mathematical skills into the real world. At Preston, we’re building a community of problem-solvers ready to take on the future!
All Maths-No Problem! lessons have elements of the following:
- Inclusivity: Tasks and activities are designed to be inclusive for all pupils whilst providing components of challenge for more advanced learners.
- CPA approach: Where appropriate, pupils will be introduced to a concept using concrete resources (such as counters) and then move on to a pictorial representation followed by the abstract symbols and methods.
- Problem-solving: Tasks and activities encourage problem-solving skills where pupils are often asked to work together to come up with solutions.
- Variation: Questions and examples are varied to encourage pupils to recognise that there may be more than one method for solving a problem.
