We follow a teaching to mastery approach from Nursery to Year 6. Children learn through experience that by working hard, asking for feedback and collaborating with others they can succeed. We spend time developing deep knowledge of the key mathematical concepts in interactive lessons. Our lessons are full of discussion and as a result children develop a wide mathematical vocabulary and learn to reason about their understanding.
Across the school, maths in taught in mixed attainment groups so that all children benefit from rich classroom talk, encounter and take on challenge and work together to solve problems.
At Ashmount, children get lots of hands on experience with objects and learn with visuals before moving onto the abstract (the calculations, numbers and symbols). This concrete-pictorial-abstract approach supports them to explore their understanding and build strong visual memories of the mathematical concepts. Lessons and lesson sequences are carefully designed to help children to make excellent progress.
For more on teaching for mastery you may want to read:
The National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Maths ‘What is Mastery?
In our Early Years children experience and explore a huge variety of mathematical concepts in the environment. Children have short whole class maths sessions and work in small groups with their key adults to develop their knowledge and skills, building a firm foundation in number, shape and measure.
In KS1 and Lower KS2 we teach maths through the Maths No Problem scheme. This is an approach to maths informed by teaching in Singapore. You can find parent support for Maths No Problem here.
In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 this is teaching is supported by the NCETM Mastering Number programme.
In Years 5 and 6, we use the White Rose scheme of Learning in which mathematics is taught in small steps within longer blocks enabling children to develop depth of understanding and fluency. You can find White Rose parent resources here.
At Ashmount, our Deputy Headteacher is a Mastery Specialist working with schools across London boroughs through the Maths Hub. Two of our Class Teachers are currently taking part in Teacher Work Groups on Mastery through the Maths Hub.
For more information about the Nations Curriculum for Maths, please view The National Curriculum for Mathematics
