At Aldersbrook we would like Mathematics to be meaningful and engaging so that all pupils have access to learning in every lesson and feel involved and confident in each of the units and all the skills they are learning. Our mastery approach builds on children’s knowledge and skills – allowing them to know more and remember more. We intend for pupils to be curious and independent by making rich connections with mathematical ideas, developing their understanding of the world, knowing the purpose behind their learning and applying their knowledge to their everyday lives, and having the ability to reason mathematically to solve increasingly complex problems.

 The national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practise 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
• They 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.

The Mathematics curriculum at Aldersbrook builds on previous knowledge and skills, allowing children to revisit units in order to increase understanding and allow them to feel confident about accessing their new learning. Pupils who grasp concepts rapidly are challenged through rich and sophisticated problems to broaden and deepen their mathematical understanding. The knowledge and skills that we teach are taken from the National Curriculum are presented on progression documents to encourage teachers to use it for: assessing children’s ability; identify gaps in learning; ensure appropriate curriculum coverage and delivery of a breadth of study, to ensure children are given the best chance of progressing and to master the unit of learning.

At Aldersbrook, we employ the CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) approach in our Maths curriculum because it aligns with our educational philosophy of building a solid and comprehensive understanding of mathematical concepts amongst pupils. This method starts with concrete hands-on experiences, allowing pupils to manipulate physical objects and gain an intuitive grasp of mathematical ideas. It then transitions to pictorial representations, where students visualise and solve problems through drawings or diagrams, enhancing their ability to think conceptually. Finally, the abstract phase involves using mathematical symbols and equations, which helps pupils develop the ability to work with numbers and operations abstractly.

Have a look below at our Progression of Skills grids for each area of study in Maths