At St Teresa of Lisieux we use the Mathematics Mastery programme to direct our Maths teaching. Mathematics Mastery is an innovative maths teaching framework, supporting schools, students and teachers to be successful at maths.

A deep understanding is achieved through covering fewer topics in greater depth not ‘climbing’ the curriculum as quickly as possible. Pupils master concepts rather than learning procedures by rote. It is also key that all pupils master the curriculum, which fits in very well with our school vision, that ‘We aim to provide a learning environment where all children can achieve their highest potential and to foster a climate where all children, regardless of class, race, gender or disability feel secure and can grow in confidence and self esteem’.

There are three key features of the primary programme that deliver pupils with a deep understanding of mathematics.

Objects and pictures: Children use concrete manipulatives (objects) and pictorial representations (pictures), before moving to abstract symbols (numbers and signs).

Language development: The way that children speak and write about mathematics has been shown to have an impact on their success. Mathematic Mastery uses a carefully sequenced, structured approach to introduce and reinforce mathematical vocabulary. Every lesson includes opportunities for children to explain or justify their mathematical reasoning.

Problem solving: Mathematical problem solving is at the heart of the approach – it is both how children learn maths, and the reason why they learn maths. By accumulating knowledge of mathematics concepts, children can develop and test their problem solving in every lesson.