At Woodvale, we teach Maths using White Rose, which is a research-based scheme of learning designed to support a mastery approach to teaching and learning and is consistent with the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum.  It is based on a small-steps approach, which means the concepts are broken down so the children can acquire a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding. It has been designed to support and challenge all pupils, and is built on the belief that everyone can learn maths successfully, by building number fluency, confidence and understanding, step by step. We work as a whole class, encouraging students of all abilities to support each other in their learning.

Putting number first

A significant amount of time is spent reinforcing number in order to build competency and ensure children can confidently access the rest of the curriculum.

Depth before breadth

Through using White Rose, we ensure that the children acquire depth of knowledge in each topic. Opportunities to revisit previously learned skills are built into later units.

Fluency, reasoning and problem solving

White Rose develops all three key areas of the National Curriculum, giving children the knowledge and skills they need to become confident mathematicians.

Research shows that all children, when introduced to a new concept, should have the opportunity to build competency by following the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (C-P-A) approach. This features throughout our lessons at Woodvale and we allow children to tackle concepts in a tangible and accessible way.

Concrete

Children should have the opportunity to work with physical objects/concrete resources, in order to bring the maths to life and to build understanding of what they are doing.

Pictorial

Alongside concrete resources, children should work with pictorial representations, making links to the concrete. Visualising a problem in this way can help children to reason and to solve problems.

Abstract

With the support of both the concrete and pictorial representations, children can develop their understanding of abstract methods.

Key points:

We believe that every child can achieve.

Small steps build a solid foundation of deep mathematical understanding.

We build pupils’ mathematical fluency without the need for rote learning.

New concepts are introduced using the Concrete-Pictorial- Abstract (CPA) approach

Pupils learn to think mathematically to find patterns, connections and relationships between different concepts.

We also use Times Tables Rockstars as a tool to help pupils develop fluency in multiplication tables in school and at home.