Maths

At Marfleet, we believe that mathematical ability is not fixed. White Rose Maths supports this by shifting the focus from “speed” to “understanding.”

• Equality of Opportunity: We teach the whole class together. By using “small steps” progression, we ensure every child starts from the same point, avoiding the “low ability” labels that can limit a child’s self-belief.

• Scaffolding Success: We believe children succeed when they have the right tools. We use physical manipulatives (like Numicon or place value counters) to ensure that even the most abstract concepts are accessible to everyone.

• Foundation First (EYFS): Mathematics starts in our Nursery. We focus on foundational skills, such as subitising and number patterns, to ensure children are “reception-ready” and beyond.

We don’t rely on gimmicks to make maths fun; we rely on excellent teaching and world-class resources that make sense to children.

CPA Approach: We engage pupils by moving through three vital stages:

Concrete: Handling physical objects to “feel” the maths.

Pictorial: Using visual models (like bar models or part-whole diagrams) to “see” the maths.

Abstract: Using numbers and symbols to “do” the maths.

• Interactive Lessons: WRM resources are visually rich and designed to spark curiosity, turning every lesson into an exploration of patterns and relationships.
• Daily foundational fluency : In addition to their maths lesson all children have an additional lesson focused on foundational maths skills.  This daily practice ensures that key facts—like times tables and number bonds—become automatic, reducing the “cognitive load” when children face harder problems.
• Same-Day ‘Keep-Up’ Support: We don’t wait for gaps to widen. If a child finds a concept tricky during the morning lesson, they receive a targeted ‘Keep-Up’ session that same afternoon. This immediate intervention ensures they are ready to progress with their peers the following morning.
• Mathematical Oracy: We teach children to “speak like mathematicians.” We use specific vocabulary and STEM sentences to help children explain their reasoning and justify their answers.

Maths at Marfleet is about more than passing an exam; it is about giving our pupils the Skills for Life they need to navigate the world with confidence.

• Mathematical Fluency: We prioritise a deep understanding of number facts. Being fluent in multiplication or addition isn’t just a school skill—it’s a life skill that reduces cognitive load in everyday situations.
• Real-World Contexts: White Rose problems are often set in practical scenarios—such as calculating change, measuring perimeters, or interpreting statistics—ensuring pupils understand the “why” behind their learning.
• Memory & Retrieval: The “spiral” nature of the curriculum means skills are revisited and reinforced, ensuring they are embedded for the long term.

We want our pupils to be Trailblazing thinkers who don’t just follow a method, but understand why it works and can find their own paths to a solution.

• Mathematical Reasoning: A core part of our daily practice is asking children to “convince me” or “prove it.” This encourages pupils to articulate their thoughts and defend their logic.
• Problem Solving: We present “Low Floor, High Ceiling” tasks that allow every child to enter a problem but offer no limit to how far they can take their thinking.
• Independence: By teaching pupils to use various models and tools, we empower them to choose the strategy that works best for them, fostering true independence.