At Place Farm Primary Academy, we teach Maths through an engaging and accessible style, using the Mathematics Mastery programme. Mathematics Mastery was developed by the ARK schools and inspired by Maths teaching from Shanghai and Singapore.

At Place Farm Primary Academy, Mathematics Mastery is taught from Years One to Six. Early Years use elements of Maths Mastery, including a daily Maths Meeting to revisit key concepts.

Maths Mastery and the National Curriculum

The Mathematics Mastery curriculum follows the National Curriculum objectives.

Our intent is 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.

Maths Mastery

It has been developed to ensure that every child can achieve excellence in Maths. It provides children with a deep understanding of the subject, through the use of a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach. This ensures that children fully understand what they are learning, and are able to explain their methods. We recognise that pupils need to develop their conceptual understanding so that they can apply their knowledge in a range of contexts, including the development of problem solving and reasoning skills. Mathematics Mastery provides fewer topics to be taught in greater depth, and aims for children to calculate equations with confidence.

The six-part lesson structure

The lessons are taught in six parts:

1. Do Now
2. New Learning
3. Talk Task
4. Develop Learning
5. Independent Task
6. Plenary

This structure enables children to explore and discuss concepts with their peers, before working independently. This is invaluable, because it ensures that the children have a secure understanding of each new concept.

Challenge in Maths

The children are challenged in their Maths lessons through teacher questioning as well as individual challenges, which are stuck in children’s books. The children are encouraged to explain their answer to demonstrate their mathematical thinking and reasoning.

Whole school problem solving and reasoning

As part of a whole school focus, children are exposed to an NRich problem and Big Picture from Maths Mastery. These are alternated across the two weeks. Children are encouraged to use their problem solving and reasoning skills and generate questions about what they are learning.

Supporting with Maths at home

To reinforce our teaching of Mathematics Mastery, there are many ways that you can support your child at home:

• Practising multiplication tables
• Exploring telling the time
• Weighing and measuring 
• Playing money focused games
• Playing board games
• Looking for shapes 
• Discussing the days of the week and the months of the year 

Support and guidance on the Maths Mastery website

There is also a wealth of information available on the Mathematics Mastery website, which can be found at https://www.arkcurriculumplus.org.uk/.

Miss Lister is the Maths Lead at Place Farm Primary Academy if you have any questions or queries about Maths.