Maths

Our maths curriculum has been designed to be accessible to all, maximising every child’s academic progress and achievement. Through the careful use of manipulatives and visual representations alongside active, engaging lessons, children are supported through the stages of concrete, pictorial and abstract learning.

By working with our local maths project partners and using the latest educational research, we provide regular training to all the members of staff within our school. We plan maths lessons that prepare our pupils for the next stage in their education and life in the outside world. Core maths skills such as counting, understanding place value, times tables and calculation are prioritized at Garvestone with daily opportunities for consolidation.

Once pupils have developed good fluency within their basic maths concepts, they are given the opportunities to apply their learning through challenging problem solving and reasoning contexts. Our pupils are expected to leave Garvestone with a keen love of numbers, and a real sense of enjoyment of this vital subject.

In years Reception-6, we follow the White Rose curriculum for maths. The curriculum map for maths and the skills progression document can be found below:

Key Instant Recall Facts 

KIRFs (Key instant recall facts) are a way of helping children learn by heart key facts and information which they need to have instant recall of.

KIRFs are designed to support the development of mental maths skills that underpin much of the maths work in schools. They are particularly useful when calculating: adding; subtracting; multiplying or dividing. They contain number facts such as number bonds and times tables that need constant practice and rehearsal, so children can recall them quickly and accurately.

Instant recall of facts helps enormously with mental agility within maths lessons. When children move onto written calculations, knowing these key facts is very beneficial. For your child to become more efficient in recalling them easily, they need to be practised frequently and for short periods of time.

Each half term, children will focus on a Key Instant Recall Fact (KIRF) to practise and learn for the half term. They are available on our school website. They include practical ideas to assist your child in grasping the key facts and contain helpful suggestions of ways in which you could make this learning interesting and relevant. They are not designed to be a time-consuming task and can be practiced anywhere – in the car, walking to school, etc. Regular practice – little and often – helps children to retain these facts and keep their skills sharp. Throughout the half term, the KIRFs will also be practiced in school and your child’s teacher will assess whether they have been retained.

Over their time at primary school, we believe that – if the KIRFs are developed fully – children will be more confident with number work, understand its relevance, and be able to access the curriculum much more easily.

EYFS and KS1 KIRFS  

KS2 KIRFS

Useful Maths Websites

TT Rockstars https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth

KS2 BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z826n39

KS1 BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zjxhfg8

ICT games: https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/index.html

Topmarks: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/

For parents:

 Building Firm Foundations in Maths

https://earlymaths.org/building-firm-foundations-in-mathematics/

National Numeracy Parent Toolkit has a wealth of tips and advice: https://www.familymathstoolkit.org.uk/

Oxford Owl includes a range of activities, top tips and eBooks to help your child with their maths at home:

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/maths/

A charity that provides families with advice and simple at home activities to promote a love of maths: https://www.mathsontoast.org.uk/

Maths 4 Mums and Dads provides parents with guidance on supporting the development of their child’s maths knowledge: https://www.maths4mumsanddads.co.uk/

These booklets are free to download and match the maths curriculum we use in school: https://whiterosemaths.com/parent-resources