Mathematics

Intent

At Hetton Lyons Primary, our mathematics curriculum is ambitious, coherent and inclusive, ensuring all pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to succeed. It is fully aligned with the aims of the Primary National Curriculum for Mathematics and underpinned by our curriculum drivers of aspiration, endeavour and expression. The purpose of our curriculum is to equip pupils with essential life skills, enabling them to understand and interpret the world, solve problems, make informed decisions, and access learning across all areas of the curriculum.

From the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), children develop secure foundations in number, numerical patterns, shape, space and measures, supporting early reasoning, problem-solving and preparation for future learning. Progression is carefully planned so that knowledge, skills and vocabulary are built incrementally and revisited systematically, ensuring strong building blocks for long-term mathematical understanding.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will have a secure understanding of place value to at least one million, fluency in the four operations with whole numbers and decimals, and confidence in fractions, percentages and ratio. They will accurately apply knowledge of measurement, geometry and statistics, reason mathematically using precise vocabulary, and solve complex, multi-step problems.

High expectations for all promote aspiration, resilience and accuracy develop endeavour, and pupils articulate, justify and represent their thinking with clarity, demonstrating expression. Pupils leave Hetton Lyons Primary as confident, capable mathematicians, fully prepared to thrive academically and in everyday life.

Implementation

Mathematics at Hetton Lyons Primary is implemented through a carefully sequenced, mastery-informed curriculum with clearly defined end points and the essential building blocks required to achieve them. The curriculum is designed to equip pupils with knowledge, skills and precise mathematical vocabulary, enabling them to solve problems, reason logically, make informed decisions, and apply learning across the wider curriculum.

In the EYFS, children develop strong early number sense, pattern recognition, shape, space and measures through structured play and adult-led learning. Rich mathematical language is modelled and used to describe quantity, position, shape and comparison, laying the foundation for reasoning and problem solving.

As pupils progress through Key Stages 1 and 2, learning is carefully sequenced to ensure incremental progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary. For example, children move from counting and number recognition to place value, mental calculation strategies, written methods, and ultimately complex problem-solving. Similarly, pupils develop from naming shapes to understanding properties, angles, coordinates and measurement, and from everyday comparative language to precise mathematical terminology when reasoning and explaining.

Teaching emphasises fluency, reasoning and problem solving, supported by concrete, pictorial and abstract representations. High expectations and purposeful challenge promote endeavour, while pupils are encouraged to articulate, justify and represent their thinking clearly, reflecting expression. Ongoing assessment informs responsive teaching, ensuring pupils make sustained progress towards curriculum end points and are fully prepared for lifelong application of mathematics.

Impact

The impact of the mathematics curriculum at Hetton Lyons Primary is evident in pupils who understand the purpose of mathematics and can confidently apply their learning in a range of contexts, both within and beyond the classroom. Pupils build secure, long-term knowledge, underpinned by carefully sequenced building blocks that lead to clearly defined curriculum end points.

From EYFS, children demonstrate strong early number sense, curiosity, and positive attitudes to learning, recognising mathematics as a tool for problem solving, reasoning and understanding the world. As pupils progress through Key Stages 1 and 2, they develop fluency, accuracy, reasoning skills and precise mathematical vocabulary, demonstrating clear progression in knowledge, skills and language.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils can solve complex, multi-step problems and apply their understanding across all strands of mathematics. Learning consistently prepares pupils for the next stage, including secondary school, where they can access more abstract concepts with confidence.

Pupils show aspiration through ambition and confidence, endeavour through resilience and perseverance, and expression through the ability to articulate and justify mathematical thinking. Assessment outcomes, work scrutiny and pupil voice confirm strong progression, depth of understanding and attainment. As a result, pupils leave Hetton Lyons Primary as confident, capable mathematicians, equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for future learning, employment, and full participation in society.

Supporting Your Child's Mathematics at Home

One of the easiest ways to support your child’s mathematics learning is to involve them in everyday tasks that require numeracy. Practical activities such as weighing ingredients in the kitchen, helping to add up the shopping bill, working out how long it is until the next bus, or calculating the duration of TV programmes all help children see the real-world application of mathematics. These simple, engaging experiences reinforce learning and help children develop confidence, reasoning skills, and an understanding of how mathematics is used in daily life.

Using fun games, songs, and interactive activities at home also supports learning and encourages a positive attitude towards mathematics. Another key way to support your child is to help them with their times tables. Times tables are fundamental to developing fluency in mathematics, and it is expected that children have a secure knowledge of tables up to 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4. To support this, Hetton Lyons Primary promotes the use of the online programme Times Table Rockstars, which provides personalised logins for KS2 pupils. Through the programme, children can compete against classmates, other year groups, and even teachers, helping to build both motivation and confidence in their times tables.

By engaging with mathematics at home, children consolidate learning, practise key skills, and develop a lifelong appreciation for the subject.

Useful Websites for Parents and Children

Children make the most progress in mathematics when they can practise skills in a variety of engaging ways, both at school and at home. To support this, staff and pupils at Hetton Lyons Primary have created a list of recommended websites that offer interactive games, activities, and resources. These tools help children practise key skills, develop fluency, and apply their learning in fun, practical ways. By using these websites, parents can support their child’s learning, consolidate classroom teaching, build confidence, and encourage a positive attitude towards mathematics.