Maths at The Willows

 

At The Willows, our mathematics curriculum is designed to help every child achieve their full potential from their own starting point. We deliver an engaging and accessible maths curriculum that prepares our pupils for their next step in education and equips them with essential life skills. We give our pupils opportunities to develop fluency with the basics (number bonds, timetables and mathematical concepts), reason mathematically using precise mathematical language, and solve problems with confidence by applying their knowledge in real-life contexts. Through daily maths lessons that include fluency, reasoning and problem-solving, differentiated to ensure appropriate challenge for all learners, and supported by concrete manipulatives and visual representations, children make strong progress and are rewarded for their achievements using Num Bots and Times Table Rock Stars.

We want each child to develop self-confidence, resilience and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about mathematics, growing in confidence to see themselves as capable mathematicians. Regular assessment tracks individual progress, and children apply their maths skills across the curriculum, leaving The Willows with the mathematical knowledge, skills and confidence they need for their next stage of education and for independence in daily life.

Our Approach

We follow the White Rose Maths curriculum, a research-based programme that ensures continuity and progression in teaching mathematics from Year 1 to Year 6. 

We use the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract (CPA) approach throughout our teaching:

• Concrete – Children use physical objects and manipulatives to explore mathematical concepts
• Pictorial – Children use visual representations such as diagrams and models
• Abstract – Children use mathematical symbols to solve problems independently

This approach helps all children, particularly those with SEND, to develop deep understanding and make meaningful connections in mathematics.

Times Table Rock Stars & NumBots

We use two fantastic online programmes to build mathematical fluency:

Times Table Rock Stars (TTRS) – Children in Years 2-6 use this fun, game-based programme to master their times tables. To be a Times Table Rock Star, you need to answer any multiplication fact up to 12×12 in less than 3 seconds!

When it comes to times tables, speed and accuracy are important – the more facts your child remembers, the easier it is for them to do harder calculations. Times Table Rock Stars (TTRS) is a fun and challenging programme designed to help students master the times tables! To be a Times Table Rock Star you need to answer any multiplication fact up to 12×12 in less than 3 seconds!

Num Bots – Children in Key Stage 1 (and those needing additional support in Key Stage 2) use NumBots to develop rapid recall of number bonds and mental addition and subtraction skills.

  

For more detailed information about our mathematics curriculum, please see our Mathematics Policy.

Want to support your child's maths learning at home? Ask your child's teacher for their NumBots or Times Table Rock Stars login, and watch them become a maths superstar!

 

If you would like to know more about the National Curriculum please click here: