Gledhow Primary School

Below are the termly overviews for each year group, where you can see when the children will be covering each mathematical concept.

Maths learning that stays with you!

As part of our homework and to develop a love for all things maths, we use the platform Mathletics! This is an on-line maths website which challenges children to apply the skills they have been learning. All the activities are aimed to support maths learning through engaging, challenging content that will develop student understanding and skills, taking them on to the next stage of their development.

Mathletics is a practice environment that rewards hard work, with dynamic, unlimited questions. It encourages students to learn from their mistakes, and move through new challenges at their own pace. There's no feeling that can match mastering a skill on Mathletics, since it comes with the satisfaction of knowing you really do “get it”.

Your child's class teacher will give your child their individual log in details so that they can access the website from home too. Your child's class teacher will set specific tasks aimed at your child's ability or your child can simply play mathematical games to support their learning but the children are encouraged to go on to the platform as often as they can to develop their maths skills.

Each week, classes compete with one another to earn the coveted Mathletics Trophy and the children are given their well-earned bronze, silver and gold certificates as part of weekly Celebration Assemblies.

We also have a wonderful maths leaderboard, which celebrates our winning classes as well as our weekly Top Ten Mathletes from across the school.

If you have any issues or questions, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher or Miss Black as maths lead.

Here is our calculation policy, where you can see the different methods used in each year group to allow the children to secure the basic 4 operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Our calculation policy uses the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract approach, which allows the children to develop a deeper understanding of a range of mathematical concepts. 

Times Tables are an essential aspect of primary maths. Knowing and learning them are vital for mathematical development. They serve as building blocks for higher learning and understanding the importance of concepts such as long multiplication, division, fractions and algebra. Through knowing times tables and regular practise children will start noticing patterns and will be able to apply this knowledge to more advanced work. They will be able to solve word problems and use their known facts to reason. Memorising and recalling time tables facts through speed recall is vital as children progress through primary school. Not only is it highly effective in the Y4 multiplication check but also in Year 5 and 6, which is where the most advanced concepts are taught.

At Gledhow, we value the importance of times tables knowledge and speed recall. We provide our children with opportunities to learn, practise, rehearse and recall known facts to 12x12, which all starts with our youngest children in EYFS.

The National Curriculum expectations for learning times tables and for each year group are as follows:

Year 1 - Count forwards and backwards in steps of 2, 5 and 10.

Year 2 - Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables up to 12x in any order.

Year 3 - Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4, and 8 multiplication tables up to 12x in any order.

Year 4 - Recall and use multiplication and division facts up to 12×12 in any order

Year 5 and 6 - Recall and use multiplication and division facts up to 12×12 and apply knowledge

By the end of Year 4, children are now required to know and understand the times tables facts up to 12 x 12. Their speed recall and fluency will be tested through a multiplication skills check.

By Year 4, children should be able to recall their multiplication facts up to 12 x 12. To help them develop these skills, children can log on to www.ttrockstars.com using their username and password. On Times Table Rockstars, pupils can practice their tables. They are then able to improve their Rock Speed and climb the Rockstar ranks! The online games reward children with virtual coins for each correct answer, which they enjoy spending on upgrading their personal rock avatar.

We carry out regular Battle of the Bands between classes and year groups, as well as other opportunities such as 'ENGLAND ROCKS!'

What is Barvember? 

Bar Modelling is a useful tool for helping children visualise and then solve maths problems. Even some of the most complex problems can be seen much easier when represented visually.

Throughout November, teachers set a range of challenges for the children to try.  Dojos will be awarded to children for excellent effort, perseverance and simply having a go, as well as those showcasing fabulous maths skills!