At Wallington Primary, we believe that in order for children to become successful mathematicians, they must develop a secure understanding of the fundamentals of number. Children’s chances of success are maximised if they develop a deep and lasting understanding of mathematical procedures and concepts (NCETM, 2020).  

 

Here at Wallington Primary Academy (WPA), we have adopted the Teaching for Mastery approach to mathematics which allows our children to explore each small step of learning whilst acquiring a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. The phrase ‘Teaching for Mastery’ describes the elements of classroom practice and school organisation that combine to give pupils the best chances of mastering maths. We ensure all children progress through the maths curriculum at broadly the same pace and give the children plenty of opportunities to explore each concept in depth.  

 

We follow a Context – Concrete – Pictorial – Abstract approach to each lesson which enables each small step of learning to be explored in depth. This in turn allows children to have the opportunity to master each skill, be able to reason and explain their thinking whilst also developing a sense of enjoyment and curiosity around the subject. 

 

This model shows how the fundamental principles of Teaching for Mastery are interlinked. By considering these aspects whilst planning and delivering the learning, we are giving the children the best chance to develop their mathematical understanding of each small step of their learning. 

We encourage resilience and independence within all maths lessons and promote the idea of reasoning for their mathematical choices. This allows the children to explore the ‘How?’ and the ‘Why?’ with regards to each subject.  

 

Children are assessed regularly to track their progress towards meeting the end of year expectations. We conduct end of unit assessments as well as formal summative assessments which are used to inform teaching and learning as well as addressing misconceptions. 

 

Ultimately, we aim to equip the children with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful mathematicians which they can apply to the next stages of their journey.