At William Penn, we believe that Maths is a crucial life skill that everyone deserves to feel confident to use in their daily life. Our Maths curriculum enables children to know more, do more and remember more by sequencing progression through the school.
In Years 1 to Year 6, we follow the White Rose Maths schemes of learning (WRM) which supports the children on their journey to mastering Maths. Within the WRM schemes of learning, each area of learning is broken down into small steps which build sequentially and work towards achieving the National Curriculum statements
We believe in a practical approach to teaching maths and follow a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach to support the children's learning. Children’s current knowledge is continually assessed and misconceptions are addressed, either within the lesson or at an alternative planned time.
We aim to equip the children with a range of mental and written strategies to be able to solve problems and reason effectively, while Key Stage 2 children are also given the opportunity to develop their arithmetic skills with our daily sessions.
Children are encouraged to be independent learners, selecting the correct challenge for them and the methods to solve the problems. All children are encouraged to use concrete resources to help them access the learning and this can be further scaffolded by an adult when required.
In Reception and Key Stage 1 we also follow the Mastering Number program. This develops strong, early "number sense", fluency, flexibility and automaticity with numbers. It helps pupils understand composition and decomposition of numbers, subitising, and relationships between quantities, which provides firm foundations for future mathematical success and improved, confident calculation. Outcomes include:
- Improved Fluency and Number Sense: The programme enables children to automatically recall number facts (e.g., within 10) and use them efficiently to calculate, reducing cognitive load.
- Boosts Confidence and Engagement: It fosters a low-stress learning environment, which helps all children feel confident and engaged in maths, shifting their mindset to view maths as exploration.
- Effective Use of Manipulatives: It provides teachers with training and resources to use tools (like rekenreks) effectively, strengthening pupils' understanding of numerical structures.
- Addresses Gaps and Supports All Learners: It has been shown to be effective in special school settings and supports children with special educational needs in mainstream schools by strengthening foundational skills.
SEND
We encourage learners to talk through their ideas with a teacher or a peer. Therefore, we give regular discussion opportunities during lessons.
Here at William Penn, we support all children to access and thrive in every subject. In Maths these supports may include –
- Pre-teaching to give some learners confidence before facing a new concept in a whole class setting
- Defining each new use of mathematical vocabulary (displayed on the working wall)
- When solving word problems, an adult or confident peer will read the questions aloud to relieve the pressure of decoding the language
- Using concrete resources to support learning – following a CPA approach
- Specific, targeted interventions for individuals or small groups