Garden Primary School.
Mathematics Policy.
Vision Statement:
Mathematics equips pupils with a uniquely powerful set of tools to understand and change
the world. These tools include logical reasoning, problem solving skills, and the ability to
think in abstract ways. Different cultures have contributed to the development and
application of mathematics. Today, the subject transcends cultural boundaries and its
importance is universally recognised. Mathematics is a creative discipline. It can
stimulate moments of satisfaction and wonder when a child solves a problem for the first
time, discovers a more precise solution to that problem, or suddenly sees hidden
connections.
Purpose and Principles:
Mathematics is important in everyday life. It is integral to all aspects of life and with this
in mind we endeavor to ensure that children develop a healthy and enthusiastic attitude
towards mathematics that will stay with them throughout life.
Aims:
 To develop positive attitudes towards mathematics and give children a sense of
achievement and fun.
 We will encourage children to develop a range of strategies for solving mental, written
and other mathematical challenges.
 To use regular problem solving activities to enable children to work on mathematical
challenges, investigations and real life problems.
 To stimulate a natural curiosity to ask questions, explore patterns and explain their
reasoning through discussion with maths partners or groups.
 To raise children’s self esteem and give them the tools to become independent,
confident and logical thinkers with flexibility of mind.
 To raise the children's confidence in order for them to develop persistence and
perseverance to overcome difficulties in mathematics.
 We aim to develop an ability to apply mathematics to other areas of the curriculum and
keep up to date with the needs of the changing world.
 We aim to make mathematics accessible to all in our school community by providing
support to all children whatever their needs, talents, gender or cultural background.
Objectives:
 To enable children to use mental strategies, become fluent with numbers and be able to
calculate efficiently.
 To enable children to use mathematical vocabulary when discussing their work with
others.
 To enable children to understand the principles relating to shape, space and measures.
 To enable children to gather and organise information effectively, and to present and
analyse data in a variety of forms.
 To enable children to apply their mathematical knowledge in a range of contexts.
 To give the opportunity for investigation, problem solving, communicating and reasoning
through all aspects of mathematical teaching.
These objectives will be taught through:
 A daily mathematics lesson which includes a clear learning objective, a mental starter,
a challenging, differentiated well paced maths activity, time for reflection and
discussion and/or a plenary activity.
 Teaching strategies which engage all children in each part of the lesson e.g. use of
number fans, whiteboards, number cards etc. in the mental starter and plenary.
 Teaching strategies which provide for all learning styles e.g. visual, auditory and
kinaesthetic learning.
 Provision of a variety of resources and concrete equipment to support mathematical
calculations.
 Some direct teaching of whole class and small groups (guided maths).
 Paired and small group speaking and listening activities (Talk Maths).
 Regular use of mathematical puzzles and real life problems.
 A variety of maths games and models including interactive whiteboard work and
internet games/ITPs.
 In each unit of work children will experience a range of teaching approaches including
explicit modelling, demonstrating, discussing, guiding, challenging, questioning, directing
and investigating.
 Cross curricular application of mathematics wherever possible i.e. linked to the learning
theme in the creative curriculum.
 A weekly challenge (linked to current class needs e.g. times tables, money, decimals
etc.) to be celebrated with the presentation of certificates for winners and
‘improvers’.
Entitlement:
All children are entitled to receive a high standard of teaching in Garden Primary School
as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.
Roles and Responsibilities
 Coordinator/Headteacher: To ensure a full and creative maths curriculum.
 Class teacher/school staff: To deliver maths lessons which are fun and thought
provoking (as described in this policy).
 Governors: To ensure the curriculum fulfils the National Curriculum programme of
study for mathematics.
 Pupils: To fully engage with the mathematical opportunities provided.
 Parents/Carers: To support the children in their mathematical learning.
Links with other policy areas
 Teaching and Learning: Children should be challenged to make progress and achieve.
 Equal Opportunities for SEN: Pupils with SEN may be presented with differentiated
tasks or be given extra support to enable full access to the work in maths lessons.
 Racial & Gender Equality: All pupils must have equal access to the maths curriculum
regardless of gender or cultural background.
 Science: Science provides a wealth of real life contexts for mathematical
investigations.
 All other subject areas: Mathematical learning is most effective when it is taught
within holistic, cross-curricular topics. It often involves skills and knowledge learnt in
science, ICT and the humanities. Maths can also be taught through creative tasks
within the Art, Music and D&T curriculum.
Resources:
In order to encourage an investigative approach to learning there are supplies of maths
resources in each classroom. Additional resources are centrally stored. The Maths
coordinator will audit the resources annually and will administer the allocated maths
budget.
Review:
Policy review will be performed by the maths coordinator, in consultation with SMT and
Governors on a three year cycle as detailed in the school development plan. The policy may
also be reviewed in the event of local or national initiatives or as a result of evaluations of
monitoring procedures.
Date: March 2008