At Woodsetts Primary School, we want every child to develop confidence, curiosity and enjoyment in mathematics. Our maths curriculum builds children’s understanding of key concepts, fluency with number facts, reasoning skills and the ability to apply knowledge to real-life problem solving.
We want our pupils to leave Woodsetts seeing themselves as mathematicians — resilient, flexible and able to think deeply about the maths that shapes their lives and futures.
We aim to ensure that every child:
- Gains secure knowledge of key mathematical facts and concepts, with the fluency to recall and apply these accurately.
- Builds confidence to explore, investigate, and reason mathematically.
- Develops precise mathematical vocabulary to explain their thinking clearly.
- Makes connections between concepts and across different areas of maths.
- Sees maths as purposeful, interconnected and relevant to the world around them.
Our mastery approach means all children are supported to achieve high standards. No ceiling is placed on learning: children are challenged through deeper tasks and reasoning, with support given quickly to anyone who needs it.
We teach Maths through a set of recurring big ideas that spiral through the curriculum from EYFS to Year 6:
- Number and Place Value – understanding our number system and its structures.
- Calculation – addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and their relationships.
- Fractions, Decimals and Percentages – parts of a whole and proportional reasoning.
- Geometry – shape, space and measures.
- Statistics – interpreting and representing data.
- Reasoning and Problem Solving – applying knowledge in new and unfamiliar contexts.
These key strands are revisited and built on each year, deepening children’s understanding as they progress through school.
- Long Term Planning: Based on the National Curriculum and structured using the White Rose small steps progression.
- Medium Term (S-Plans): Carefully sequenced journeys that build from prior knowledge, highlight misconceptions, and include reasoning and greater depth opportunities.
- Lesson Design: Each lesson includes fluency, reasoning and problem solving. Teaching often begins with an Anchor Task – a real-life problem that sparks curiosity and encourages discussion. Children then explore using concrete resources, pictorial models, and abstract methods (CPA approach).
- Maths Meetings: Daily 15-minute sessions outside of core lessons help pupils revisit and practise key knowledge, number facts and mental maths in a fun, fast-paced way. We also use White Rose Fluency Bee to support these sessions.
- Interventions and Support: Rapid intervention is given the same day if children struggle with a concept. Booster groups and pre-teach sessions ensure all pupils can access learning.
In EYFS, children build early mathematical understanding through practical exploration, play and stories. They:
- Count, compare and order numbers.
- Explore shape, space and measures through construction and role play.
- Solve problems in everyday contexts (e.g. sharing snacks, building towers).
- Learn mathematical vocabulary through songs, rhymes and daily routines.
We follow The White Rose Maths approach in EYFS to ensure that children cover the necessary skills and knowledge. These foundations prepare children for Key Stage 1 and beyond, fostering a love of maths from the very start.
Children in EYFS have a daily maths lesson, a maths meeting and also activities within the indoor and outdoor provision to help develop their mathematical skills.
- Each year group has Maths Knowledge Mats with key facts, representations and vocabulary, displayed in classrooms and used in lessons.
- Vocabulary progression is mapped from EYFS to Year 6, ensuring consistency and accuracy across school.
- Retrieval practice (e.g. anchor tasks, hinge questions, Fluency 4) and quizzes help children revisit and secure knowledge over time.
We assess maths through a blend of formative and summative approaches:
- Formative assessment: daily questioning, observation, book work, anchor tasks, hinge questions, and recall activities.
- Knowledge Checks: use of recall strategies such as “Goldfish, Dog and Elephant.” and Fluency 4.
- Termly Assessments: standardised tests and the Trust’s Common Assessment Framework.
- Summative judgements: teacher assessment at the end of each year, using evidence from books, tests and knowledge mats.
- Marking and Feedback: Lessons use clear success criteria. Misconceptions are addressed quickly; greater depth is identified with blue boxes in pupils’ books.
At Woodsetts, we encourage families to support their child’s maths learning at home through play, practice and problem solving. Here are some useful resources:
Times Tables Rockstars– Fun online games to develop multiplication fluency (your child will have a login)
MyMaths – Online lessons and homework support (your child will have a login)
White Rose 1-Minute Maths– Quick practice for number facts and fluency.
NRICH – Challenging and engaging mathematical investigations.
BBC Bitesize Maths– Explanations, videos and games for every age group.
At home you could:
- Play number games and puzzles.
- Practise times tables and number bonds.
- Cook or bake together using weighing and measuring.
- Talk about money and shopping problems.
- Look for shapes, patterns and numbers in the environment.
- “I like maths because we get to solve problems in different ways and explain our answers.” – Year 4
- “Anchor tasks help me understand tricky problems. We can try with equipment first and then do it in our books.” – Year 2
- “I enjoy Times Tables Rockstars because it makes practising fun.” – Year 3
- “Maths Meetings help me remember things I learned last year.” – Year 5
- “In maths we learn that mistakes are good because they help us to get better.” – Year 1
Pupil voice is gathered through book looks, discussions, exit questions and lesson visits. It informs planning, helps us identify gaps, and shapes how we revisit concepts across school.
Useful documents
Please see the documents below which help to explain our approach to maths in more detail.
