Mathematics

Maths Mastery

At Portfield, we work in partnership with Mathematics Mastery to teach engaging, hands on, challenging maths lessons in every class from EYFS to Year Six. 

Mathematics Mastery enhances mathematical understanding, enjoyment and achievement for every child. Our aim is for all children to be equipped with an understanding of mathematics that will be relevant and useful in their future learning and in the world of work.

The programme brings together established ideas and methods of maths teaching into one approach. Children are focused on securing basic skills, ensuring that they have a deep understanding of what they are learning and how they can apply these skills to solving problems.  In Maths Mastery children are not rushed through the curriculum and knowledge is not superficially gained but instead, time is taken to embed skills and knowledge, ensuring that firm building blocks are in place. In lessons, there is an emphasis on children thinking mathematically. Children engage in problem solving activities, learning and using skills such as reasoning, conjecturing, generalising and working systematically.

Key Principles of Mathematics Mastery

Mathematical problem solving is at the heart of the mathematics mastery approach, with an emphasis on three key principles; developing students' conceptual understanding, deepening mathematical thinking and with a consistent focus on correct mathematical language. The use of concrete manipulatives (equipment) is also paramount to the development of the children's understanding. 

Key principles: 

• Mathematical thinking - Pupils deepen their understanding by giving an example, by sorting or comparing, or by looking for patterns and rules in the representations they are exploring problems with. 

• Conceptual understanding - Pupils deepen their understanding by representing concepts using objects and pictures, making connections between different representations and thinking about what different representations stress and ignore. 

• Language and communication - Pupils deepen their understanding by explaining, creating problems, justifying and proving using mathematical language. This acts as a scaffold for their thinking deepening their understanding further. 

The 6-Part Lesson

Each lesson starts with a quick 'Do Now' task - a task that they should be able to access independently at the beginning of the lesson. New learning is then introduced and children are given talking time to discuss the areas of new learning, building on their vocabulary. The learning is then developed further, building a deeper understanding before the children take part in an independent task. The lesson finishes with a chance to check the understanding and celebrate success.

Maths Meetings

Maths meetings are separate to the six-part maths lesson. They are short, fast-paced sessions where children learn and recall key mathematical knowledge, often through singing and chanting. Maths meetings include five 1-2 minute sections which include:

• retrieval of previously taught knowledge

• calendar / time maths

• learning new key mathematical knowledge

• pre-teaching for the next Maths Mastery unit of work or addressing misconceptions that have arisen during Maths Mastery lessons

• a maths song / chant linked to the learning for the Maths Meeting learning for that day