At Ribbon Academy, we are continuing to sustain our Teaching for Mastery practice where we support a long-term, secure and adaptable approach to mathematics teaching supporting learners to:

• become resilient learners;
• work efficiently by making effective links between concepts, facts and relationships; whilst
• develop conceptual understanding by using models, pictorials and concrete resources
• apply knowledge and skills to the wider world.

Teaching of maths at Ribbon is supported by “The Big 5 Ideas” where teachers use coherence, representation and structure, mathematical thinking, fluency and both conceptual and procedural variation to ensure effective learning.

Ribbon Academy places prime importance on mathematical understanding and practical application of what is learnt whilst acknowledging that mental ability is of great importance.

Our Maths Overview outlines the essential details to ensure full coverage of the National Curriculum whilst providing our teachers with the tools required to support the development of efficient mathematicians. These details include: –

• progression of teaching topics and application topics
• identification of procedural and conceptual skills to teach
• prioritised fluent facts and skills to practise, know and learn.

In support of these, we teach maths every day where learning time includes the practise and the development of factual, conceptual and procedural knowledge. Maths teaching and learning includes:

• Maths Starters (Focused on mental arithmetic, skill development and fact recall)
• Teaching for Mastery Lessons (New teaching and application of knowledge and skills)
• Online Independent Practice (via Mathletics and TT Rockstars)

We recognise regular learning and practise as essential in order to develop a rapid recall of number facts, efficiency in procedures and a deepened knowledge of mathematical concepts.

During our Teaching for Mastery lessons children are given the opportunity to independently practise new learn at varying depths, providing them the opportunity to ‘Find Fluency’, ‘Develop Depth’ and ‘Master Maths’.

To supplement our maths package we utilize the following:

• Timestables Rockstars (Year 2 – 6)

Timestables Rockstars

Once children have been taught the knowledge and skills required for their year group-focused times tables, they are given the opportunity to develop accuracy, fluency and speed via the tool of Timestables Rockstars – with the support of their very own avatar. Children are allocated tasks and competitions to focus their practise in order to build confidence with timetables knowledge.

Children are given time in school as well as access to log-ins for Timestable Rockstars to encourage engagement and practise at home.