Maths
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Supporting your child at home |
Our aims
A Shirley Infant mathematician will develop a passion for mathematics in order for our children to become confident learners who are able to tackle the use of numbers in everyday life. Maths enables us to explain, quantity and answer questions about the world around us. We believe Maths is for everyone. It empowers children with the ability to reason and logic when solving problems and enables them to start thinking in a more abstract way. The stands of Mathematics, which we grasp at an early age, continue to be threaded through our adult lives, making it necessary for children to become confident, numerate individuals. We endeavour to ensure that children at our school develop a healthy and enthusiastic attitude towards Maths that will remain with them into adulthood. We believe that Maths learning should be fun and engaging. It is vital that the children learn in a practical, hands on way using real life objects and pictures.
Our overviews
Our maths overviews have been carefully sequenced to ensure that there are plenty of interleaving opportunities, enabling the children to be able to combine concepts and apply these to different contexts.
Year R Overview 2024-25
Year 1 Overview 2024-25
Year 2 Overview 2024-25
The CPA approach
Children can find maths difficult because it is abstract. The CPA approach builds on a child's existing knowledge by introducing abstract concepts in a concrete and tangible way. It involves moving from concrete materials, to pictorial representations, to abstract symbols and problems.
Concrete ('Do it')
During this stage, children use concrete objects to model problems.
Pictorial ('See it')
Building or drawing a model makes it easier for children to grasp difficult abstract concepts (for example, fractions). Simply put, it helps children visualise abstract problems and make them more accessible.
Abstract (symbolic)
At this stage, children use abstract symbols to model problems such as addition and subtraction.
Mastering Number at Reception and KS1
We are delighted to be a part of the Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 programme this academic year. You can find out more about the programme here:
Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 | NCETM