At Pensilva, we believe that a high-quality maths education provides a foundation for understanding the world. Our aim is for all children to develop a love of maths, underpinned by curiosity and confidence in their ability to solve problems and think mathematically.
Intent
Our maths curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils:
- Develop a deep, secure and adaptable understanding of mathematical concepts.
- Build fluency in number facts, times tables, and place value.
- Learn to reason mathematically and explain their thinking clearly.
- Apply their knowledge to solve a wide range of problems.
- Enjoy maths and feel confident in their ability to succeed.
We follow a Mastery approach, which means pupils master each topic before moving on, allowing them to build strong foundations and make connections across mathematical ideas.
Curriculum Design
- We use the White Rose Maths scheme to guide our planning, adapting it for mixed-age classes.
- Our curriculum follows a cyclical structure, revisiting and building on topics each year.
- Progression documents and whole-school overviews ensure consistency and coverage across all key stages.
Key Stage Coverage
Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2)
Focus on building number sense through:
- Counting, place value, addition, subtraction
- Multiplication and division (2, 5, 10 times tables)
- Fractions, measurement, geometry and statistics
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4)
Focus on fluency and written methods:
- All four operations, fractions and decimals
- Shape, measurement and problem solving
- Rapid recall of multiplication facts up to 12 × 12
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 & 6)
Focus on applying knowledge to complex problems:
- Place value to 10 million, negative numbers
- Formal written methods, algebra, ratio and proportion
- Geometry, statistics and reasoning across all areas
Further in -depth information can be viewed in the documents below.
Implementation
Daily Maths Fluency
- Every day there is a timetabled fluency session focused on number facts, arithmetic skills and times tables.
- This follows the Number Sense programme and is delivered to groups of children working at the same stage.
- This supports our daily whole-class maths lessons.
- Activities such as Fluent in Five and Flashback 5 help reinforce key knowledge and prepare children for new learning.
Daily Keep-Up Interventions
- Children who need additional support receive daily interventions, either before or after the main lesson.
- These short sessions (10–15 minutes) focus on pre-teaching key concepts or addressing misconceptions to help children keep up with the curriculum.
Teaching Approach
We use the Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract (CPA) approach to support understanding:
- Concrete – Children use physical objects and manipulatives.
- Pictorial – Visual models such as bar models and number lines help represent ideas.
- Abstract – Children use numbers and symbols with confidence once concepts are secure.
Lesson Structure
Lessons are structured to ensure that all children can REACH their potential. This includes:
- Retrieval Practice – Revisiting prior learning to strengthen memory.
- Explicit Teaching – Introducing new concepts with clear modelling and questioning.
- Application – Tasks that progress from fluency to reasoning and problem solving.
- Challenge and Help – Live marking and small group interventions during and after lessons.
Impact
We measure the impact of our maths curriculum through:
- Pupil progress in fluency, reasoning and problem solving
- Daily formative assessment through questioning, marking and feedback
- Termly summative assessments using White Rose Maths tests
- Book looks, lesson observations and pupil conferencing by the Maths Lead and SLT
- Targeted interventions for children not making expected progress
Children are encouraged to reflect on their learning and improve their work using our Think Pink feedback approach. Assessment outcomes inform future planning and are shared with parents in end-of-year reports.