Maths Statement of Intent

Resilient        Respectful       Inspired      Curious

Mathematicians at Yeadon Westfield Junior School

At Yeadon Westfield Junior School, we recognise that mathematics is a powerful tool that helps us understand the world and is essential to everyday life. As such we want our children to be empowered by their solid knowledge and understanding of mathematical concepts and develop a sense of curiosity not only for maths but the world in which they live.

We aim to inspire our children by fostering a positive ‘can do’ attitude as we believe all children can achieve in mathematics, through careful planning, manageable steps and secure, deep understanding of mathematical concepts. Children in YWJS, are encouraged to be resilient learners when problem solving, and school is a safe place where mistakes and misconceptions are essential parts of learning. This breeds perseverance in our children when seeking solutions.

Our mathematics curriculum is shaped by our whole school vision and specifically, children are taught maths through an enjoyable and varied spiral approach. Each year, children at our school build on prior maths knowledge following a learning journey that includes concrete modelling, where children are able to visualise concepts, and fundamental fluency understanding in which children recall and apply their knowledge. This is further practiced through exciting and challenging problem solving which embeds children’s knowledge, modelling real life scenarios with increasing sophistication. Finally, mastery of mathematics enables our children to be inspired to follow lines of enquiry, be curious in developing and experimenting with solutions and present justifications and arguments in a respectful manner using mathematical language and oracy skills. All of which leads to satisfaction and enjoyment through being resilient learners.

We are committed at YWJS, to ensuring that our children progress beyond our school knowing the importance of mathematics in the wider world. Being fluent in the fundamentals of maths and having the skill sets needed to confidently reason and problem solve will equip them beyond their school life.

Here are some of things our children think about Maths

What is Maths?

'Maths is all about numbers. We learn maths to get further in collage, better jobs and be successful in life in general.' Year 3 child.

'Maths is finding out answers.' Year 4 child.

'Maths is where we learn addition, multiplication, division and subtraction. In the future it can help with your job and daily life.' Year 5 child.

'Maths is where you learn different methods to do with number. Learning maths gives us the life skills we may need in the future.' Year 6 child.

Do you enjoy Maths?

'It's a bit challenging and a bit fun, maths is my favourite subject in school.' Year 3 child.

'I enjoy maths. I love Times Table Rock stars.' Year 4 child.

'I enjoy times tables.' Year 5 child.

'Maths is challenging but that's good, if you don't get challenging work it would be boring. I loved learning long multiplication.' Year 6 child.

What are your best achievements in Maths?

'How fast I can recall times tables in TTRs. When I manage to solve a problem I am really proud.' Year 3 child.

'Knowing my times tables and being able to work on greater depth questions.' Year 4 Child.

'Improving my TTRs results over a two week period.' Year 5 child.

'Answering greater depth challenge questions are my greatest achievements.' Year 6 child.

What do you learn from doing discussion problems in Maths?

'I learn team work and sometimes even if you don't like the answer you have to go with it and co-operate with other people or explain why you disagree clearly.' Year 3 child.

'Working with other partners means more ideas to discuss and two heads can be better than one.' Year 4 child.

'I learn how other people's brains work.' Year 5 child.

'We are able to discuss other ways to solve problems.' Year 6 child.

How can Maths help people overcome problems?

'If you are a builder in New York, you would need to know measurement and addition and be able to use it in architecture.' Year 3 child.

'When sharing things out to make things fair, partitioning and dividing.' Year 4 child.

'Maths help people in everyday life when facing something needing maths knowledge. You wouldn't go far in life without maths.' Year 5 child.

'Overcoming problems at high school as we will have prior knowledge and in the future to get jobs.' Year 6 child.

Maths Week November 2021

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Classroom Displays

Below are pictures of the Maths displays which are on classroom walls during the Autumn term.