We place a strong emphasis on the children learning and practising the fundamentals of mathematics, particularly number and calculation. We encourage the use of concrete objects and manipulatives to support a thorough understanding. We focus on deepening the children’s understanding through three areas: fluency, problem solving and reasoning. We want the children to think mathematically when problem solving and see that they can apply the maths knowledge and understanding that they have learnt previously, to a problem. This in turn will enhance students’ mathematical understanding and development.

• Fluency is primarily developed through varied and frequent practice.
• Reasoning is developed in two ways: routinely in lessons through a consistent teaching approach of asking ‘why?’ more often than ‘how?’; and through specific topic activities designed to teach skills in the context of the topic.  

Problem solving is developed both through routine problems and non-routine problems; the latter are focused on specific problem-solving skills shown below and taught in the context of the topic.