Maths At Zouch
At Zouch, the ENRich Maths curriculum enables learning for each year group that is planned from the relevant National Curriculum objectives. Sourced from the Can Do Maths resources, these are blocked into themes or units and then sequenced into concise and progressive manageable steps, to create a coherent mathematical journey through the learning. New learning is taught through the daily lessons whilst regular practice and review (MOT) sessions are used to practise, consolidate and revisit previous learning. In addition, daily opportunities to consolidate number fluency are built into the day to allow for the efficient, automatic recall of key number facts and procedures.
New Learning Session:
To develop RICH knowledge and skills, pupils will be exposed to daily, explicit teaching of new mathematical learning. New learning has been designed to ensure a coherent progression through the curriculum. This enables all pupils to develop a deep and connected understanding of mathematics so that they can apply it in a range of contexts.
Representation and structure has been considered so that teachers can carefully select representations of mathematics to expose mathematical structure. Variation is embedded into new learning, to draw closer attention to a key feature of a mathematical concept or structure. Pupils are simultaneously exposed to problems and reasoning, which enable mathematical thinking and is central to how pupils learn mathematics.
An essential part of our learning toolkit includes using key mathematical vocabulary, generalised statements and sentence stems to enable pupils to articulate their reasoning, expose mathematical structure, and deepen their conceptual understanding as they progress on their learning journey.
Prior Learning Session:
Pupils are exposed to daily teaching and deliberate practice of tasks that activate prior learning.
Through daily MOT sessions pupils will have opportunities to retrieve and use prior knowledge so that it can be easily remembered and recalled during New Learning sessions.
MOT sessions will also include pre teaching, weekly arithmetic practice sessions and 'Keep-up' opportunities for children who need longer to fully grasp a new concept or skill.
Number Fluency Sessions:
Short efficient, accurate recall of key number facts and procedures is essential for fluency, freeing pupils' minds to think deeply about concepts and problems. To support the development of this, the Zouch ENRich Maths Curriculum has been designed to offer daily opportunities for pupils to revisit and recall number facts and procedures through short, high-quality tasks and activities.
Revisiting previously learned knowledge and skills allows pupils to have the flexibility to move between different contexts and representations of mathematics, to recognise relationships and make connections, and to choose appropriate methods and strategies to solve problems.
Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS):
At Zouch, we use Times Tables Rock Stars as a core tool to drive the efficient, automatic recall of multiplication and division facts. Mastery of times tables is a fundamental building block of number fluency, allowing pupils to free up working memory when tackling more complex mathematical concepts.
How We Use It:
Immersive Launch Days: We kickstart our mathematical journey with dedicated TTRS launch days. These high-energy events build excitement across the school, engaging children from the outset and setting a vibrant culture for daily practice.
Targeted Heat Maps: Teachers actively use the platform’s live "heat maps" to pinpoint precise gaps in children's knowledge. This data allows staff to see exactly which multiplication and division facts require consolidation, enabling immediate, targeted support in the classroom.
Fun and Motivating Practice: Above all, the platform makes learning times tables incredibly fun. By playing in various arenas, children earn coins to customize their rock avatars and climb the school leader boards, transforming deliberate, daily practice into an engaging game they look forward to playing.
How Parents Can Support Children with Maths at Home:
A strong partnership between home and school is vital in helping children develop a deep and connected understanding of mathematics. You do not need to be a maths expert to support your child; instead, you can help them build confidence and automaticity by embedding mathematical thinking into daily routines:
- Activate Number Fluency: Dedicate 5 to 10 minutes a day to practicing rapid recall facts. This could include counting in steps, practicing number bonds, or quizzing each other on doubles and halves. Consistent, deliberate practice builds the mathematical fluency required for complex problem-solving.
- Spot the Structure in Real Life: Help your child see that maths is everywhere. Look for patterns, read timetables together, measure ingredients while cooking, or calculate change when shopping. Ask your child how they know the answer, encouraging them to explain their reasoning.
- Embrace a Growth Mindset: We encourage children to see mistakes as a valuable part of the learning journey. If your child gets stuck, guide them to think about what they do know, or ask them what representations or methods they use in school to help them unpack the problem.
Useful Maths Websites for Home Learning:
To support your child’s learning journey outside the classroom, we recommend utilising the following online platforms. These resources offer excellent opportunities to reinforce the core mathematical structures and retrieval practices we teach daily:
BBC Bitesize Primary Maths: Provides clear explanations, videos, and quizzes tailored to the National Curriculum objectives for every year group.
Topmarks Hit the Button: A brilliant platform featuring interactive games like Hit the Button, which are perfect for building the rapid number fluency and automatic recall required in daily practice.
NRICH Maths: Ideal for deepening mathematical thinking through engaging games, open-ended investigations, and rich problem-solving challenges
White Rose Education: Offers fantastic, parent-friendly video guides and downloadable workbooks that mirror the step-by-step progressive learning used in our classrooms.
Corbett Maths Primary: It is ideal for targeted revision through its structured video tutorials and progressive worksheets. Their Primary 5-a-day feature, provides daily deliberate practice at four distinct difficulty levels.
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