Mathematics
With God All Things Are Possible
At Benedict Biscop, we want our children to learn that “With God all things are possible.” We believe that every child is a mathematician and can be successful in mathematics when provided with the right curriculum, high-quality teaching and meaningful opportunities to learn. We aim for our children to develop enthusiasm and confidence in mathematics, enjoying opportunities to explore a range of problems, think logically, and work systematically and accurately.
Our Curriculum
In September 2023, we introduced a refined mastery curriculum from Early Years to Year 6. Following a review of our mathematics provision, we developed a coherent approach that ensures children build secure mathematical foundations and develop a deep understanding of number.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, children access the NCETM Mastering Number Programme, which is designed to develop a deep understanding of quantities, number relationships and patterns. Through carefully sequenced experiences, mathematical talk and practical exploration, children develop strong number sense and secure the essential foundations needed for future mathematical success.
From Year 1 to Year 6, our core mathematics curriculum is delivered through Maths No Problem, a mastery programme that develops children’s conceptual understanding, fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills through a coherent sequence of small steps. Mathematics learning is carefully designed to ensure children develop the five core competencies of mastery:
- Visualisation
- Generalisation
- Communication
- Number Sense
- Metacognition
To further strengthen fluency and number understanding, Maths No Problem is supplemented by the Number Sense Maths Programmes. In Key Stage 1, children take part in the Number Sense Number Facts Programme, which systematically develops fluency in addition and subtraction facts, building confidence and flexibility with number. In Key Stage 2, this progression continues through Number Sense Times Tables, which develops fluency in multiplication and division facts while securing children’s understanding of multiplicative relationships.
Together, these programmes provide a clear and coherent journey through mathematics. Mastering Number secures the foundations of number sense in EYFS, Number Sense Number Facts develops additive fluency in KS1, and Number Sense Times Tables strengthens multiplicative fluency in KS2. These programmes complement and enhance our Maths No Problem curriculum, ensuring that children develop the knowledge, fluency and confidence needed to reason mathematically, solve problems and achieve success throughout their primary education.
Early Years Foundation Stage
In Early Years, we believe that developing a strong grounding in number is essential so that all children acquire the building blocks needed to excel mathematically. We support children to count confidently, develop a deep understanding of numbers to 10, understand the relationships between numbers and recognise patterns within them.
By providing frequent and varied opportunities to build and apply this understanding, such as through the use of manipulatives, small objects, five frames and ten frames, children develop a secure base of knowledge and mathematical vocabulary from which mastery of mathematics can grow.
Mastering Number sits at the heart of our EYFS mathematics provision. The programme is designed to secure the foundational number knowledge that children need before beginning the National Curriculum. Through a deep understanding of counting, comparison, composition and pattern, children develop strong number sense and mathematical confidence. These foundations are then built upon through our core Maths No Problem curriculum from Year 1 onwards, with additional support through Number Sense Number Facts in Key Stage 1 and Number Sense Times Tables in Key Stage 2. This carefully planned progression ensures that children continually build upon prior learning, developing secure mathematical understanding and fluency at every stage of their education.
In addition, we believe it is important that the curriculum includes rich opportunities for children to develop their spatial reasoning skills across all areas of mathematics, including shape, space and measures. Shape, space and measure have been carefully planned to ensure children develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and are fully prepared for the next stage of learning. Learning Trajectories are used to ensure progression through small, carefully sequenced steps.
We want children to develop positive attitudes towards mathematics, recognise patterns and relationships, make connections, take risks in their learning and confidently discuss their thinking with adults and peers. In Early Years, we aim to foster a genuine love of mathematics through engaging experiences that are woven throughout children’s interests and independent play.
We expect all children to demonstrate their understanding in a range of ways, helping them to develop a mastery approach to learning. This includes exploring mathematics through concrete resources, discussion, pictorial representations and problem solving. This follows the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach, enabling children to develop visualisation skills and deep conceptual understanding.
Our approach develops children’s ability to make connections, spot patterns, reason mathematically and build a connected body of mathematical knowledge. Through mathematical talk, children learn to articulate, discuss and explain their thinking. Fluency and number sense are developed together, enabling children to use what they know to work out what they do not yet know, an essential element of mathematical understanding.
Finally, we are committed to developing metacognition across the curriculum. In mathematics, this encourages children to think about their thinking, recognise that there may be multiple methods to solve a problem and select the most efficient strategy. Through observing and discussing the approaches used by others, children broaden their own mathematical toolkit and deepen their understanding.
Our role as teachers of mathematics is to ensure that lesson design provides opportunities for all five core competencies to flourish. We are passionate about continually developing mathematics teaching and learning through strong subject knowledge and a mastery approach. This empowers teachers to be highly effective mathematics educators and supports all children in becoming confident, successful mathematicians through a coherent journey of carefully sequenced learning that leads to deep understanding and mastery.
These aims are delivered through a coherent journey of small steps through a spiral curriculum leading to a deep understanding and mastery of the subject.
Below, you will find an overview of coverage from EYFS to Year 6:
For more information please see the Mastering Number and Maths No Problem documents from the links below:
Reception Mastering Number – click here
Year 1 Mastering Number – click here
Year 2 Mastering Number – click here
Year 1 Maths No Problem – click here
Year 2 Maths No Problem – click here
Year 3 Maths No Problem – click here
Year 4 Maths No Problem – click here
Year 5 Maths No Problem – click here
Year 6 Maths No Problem – click here
Numbots and TT Rockstars
At Benedict Biscop C.E. Academy, children will have access to the online programme Numbots. Numbots is a programme used to help pupils acquire and practice fundamental maths skills through a fun and enticing online game approach.
When children are older and begin learning their multiplication and division facts, they will be given access to Numbots big brother programme TT Rockstars. Both programmes are ultilised by thousands of schools and households Nationally developing understanding, recall and fluency in key areas of maths.
SEND Statement
Benedict Biscop promotes a curriculum that puts all pupils, regardless of their needs, at the heart of what we do. By building mutual respect, we accept others for their differences believing that everyone is special and everyone has something to offer. Our inclusive and enriching curriculum, written for all children, provides pupils with meaningful and aspirational experiences as well as promoting personal growth for life-long learning. When the curriculum needs adapting, to suit the needs of individual children, appropriate modifications are made by the class teacher with support of the SENDCo and the Curriculum Subject Lead.
Our mastery maths C-P-A approach ensures that all learners are able to engage in learning no matter what their prior attainment levels. Our overall aim in our mastery approach is to ensure that each learner is confident with a concept, before moving on to the next [we recognise that some learners may require a personalised apporach, including specific learning outcomes and provision to develop foundational skills].
At Benedict Biscop C.E. Academy, our lessons are not quite. We believe that the best maths learning happens when learners can talk through their ideas with a teacher or a partner. We actively encourage discussion and to support discussion, pupils are provided with scaffolding frames such as sentence stems.
Through journalling pupils are provided with the opportunity to explain their thinking. We work hard in school to create a culture where mistakes are embraced and viewed as part of the learning process. Pupils are able to refer back to their learning journals to help their recall prior learning and the misconceptions they have addressed.
Reading Spine
Home support
Please click here to access the parental videos provided by Maths No Problem.
Additional maths resources and games can be accessed using the links below:
Top Marks- Maths learning games
Interested in finding out more?
If you would like to find out more about our curriculum. Please contact the school office by emailing BBinfo@nllt.co.uk and we will ask a member of staff to get back in touch a.s.a.p.
