Mathematics
The mathematics curriculum at Our Lady of Lourdes teaches pupils life skills to enable them to become keen, confident and skilled mathematicians, who are curious about mathematics and understand the importance of mathematics in their everyday lives. Teaching of mathematics in our EYFS is based on the objectives of the EYFS Framework (2023), working towards attaining the ELG for mathematics in ‘Number and Numerical Patterns’. To ensure teaching and learning in EYFS is in line with the updated framework (specific area – mathematics), teachers make use of the ‘Master the Curriculum’ toolkit. Within KS1 and KS2, the National Curriculum is the primary document used to direct and focus the teaching of mathematics, which provides a purposeful progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary. Teachers use the Abacus teaching programme as a foundation for planning, to ensure that coverage of the National Curriculum is thorough, progression of arithmetic and reasoning skills and knowledge is evident, and the standard of teaching and learning across the year groups is consistent throughout the school; the programme also includes links to NRICH activities that provide further challenge to children who have mastered a concept by giving them the opportunity to apply their learning to more complex problem-solving situations.
By teaching mathematics this way – in discrete lessons, and with purposeful links to other curriculum areas – pupils develop confidence and proficiency with number, mental strategies to support depth of understanding, and a positive approach to investigations and solving problems.