Our Curriculum

Maths

Maths Leadership Team

Miss Williams - Maths Leader

Mrs Hearn - Lower School Fluency Leader

Mrs Fox - MTC and Upper School Fluency Leader

The INTENT of Maths at Glebe

At Glebe, we endeavour to make learning rich, exciting, creative and dynamic so that children are engaged in all areas of mathematics. We believe that every child can achieve success in maths, and we strive to develop confident, resilient learners who approach mathematical challenges with enthusiasm and determination.

From the moment children enter Reception, we aim to foster a love of number that continues throughout their time at Glebe. We nurture this love of learning through meaningful mathematical experiences, practical exploration and daily exposure to number in a range of contexts. Children are encouraged to develop a secure understanding of mathematical concepts and build fluency in number and calculation from an early age.

Our mathematics curriculum is delivered through White Rose Maths, providing a coherent and progressive sequence of learning that supports children in developing deep conceptual understanding alongside fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills. We use a mastery approach to teaching, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to deepen their understanding and make connections within mathematics.

To further strengthen number sense and fluency, children in Reception to Year 5 participate in the NCETM Mastering Number programme. This supports pupils in developing automatic recall of key number facts, a secure understanding of number relationships and confidence when working with number. Through carefully structured sessions, children build the strong foundations needed to succeed in all areas of mathematics.

Through daily maths lessons, discrete fluency practice, Times Tables Rock Stars and NumBots children are given opportunities to practise, apply and extend their mathematical thinking. We want all pupils to develop confidence in their abilities, persevere when faced with challenges and take pride in their achievements.

Through our values of Nurture, Inspire and Challenge, we empower every child to develop a positive attitude towards mathematics and become capable, confident and successful mathematicians.

How we teach maths at Glebe - White Rose Maths

What is White Rose Maths?

White Rose Maths is the approach we use to teach mathematics in school. It follows the National Curriculum and helps children develop a deep understanding of maths rather than simply memorising methods.

What does it mean in practice? In summary, a mastery approach… 

  • Puts numbers first: White Rose has number at their heart, because we believe confidence with numbers is the first step to competency in the curriculum as a whole.
  • Puts depth before breadth: we reinforce knowledge again and again.
  • Encourages collaboration: children can progress through the schemes as a group, supporting each other as they learn.
  • Focuses on fluency, reasoning and problem solving: it gives children the skills they need to become competent mathematicians.

How does it work?

White Rose Maths teaches new concepts in small, manageable steps. Children spend time exploring ideas, practising skills and explaining their thinking before moving on to more challenging work.

Lessons typically include:

  • Revisiting previous learning
  • Learning and using mathematical vocabulary
  • Teacher modelling and guided practice
  • Independent work
  • Problem-solving and reasoning activities

At Glebe, White Rose is followed from Reception to Year 6, with a strong emphasis on small-step teaching, fluency practice and reasoning.

Maths in the foundation stage (reception)

In EYFS, mathematics is taught through a balance of adult-led activities and child-initiated play, providing children with daily opportunities to explore and apply mathematical concepts. Through practical, hands-on experiences, children develop confidence in counting, number recognition, addition and subtraction, as well as doubling, halving and sharing.

Children also explore shape, space and measure, using mathematical language to describe size, weight, capacity, time, position and patterns. The NCETM Mastering Number programme supports the development of strong number sense and fluency, helping children build secure foundations for future learning.

By embedding mathematics throughout the learning environment and everyday routines, we nurture confident, curious and enthusiastic young mathematicians.

Maths in Key Stage One (Year 1 & 2)

In Key Stage 1, our focus is on developing pupils’ confidence and fluency with number, counting and place value. Children build a secure understanding of the four operations and begin to apply their mathematical knowledge to solve problems and reason mathematically.

Learning is delivered through White Rose Maths, using a mastery approach and the concrete, pictorial, abstract (CPA) model. This enables children to explore mathematical concepts using practical resources, visual representations and abstract methods, helping them to deepen their understanding and make meaningful connections.

Through the NCETM Mastering Number programme, daily fluency practice, NumBots and Times Tables Rock Stars, pupils develop strong number sense and automatic recall of key facts. Children also learn about shape, space and measure, using mathematical language to compare, describe and explain their thinking.

We believe that all children can succeed in mathematics. Those who grasp concepts quickly are encouraged to deepen their understanding through rich reasoning and problem-solving challenges that promote creativity, resilience and critical thinking.

Maths in Key Stage Two (Year 3, 4, 5 & 6)

In Key Stage 2, pupils build on the strong foundations developed in Key Stage 1, deepening their understanding of number, calculation and mathematical reasoning. Through the White Rose Maths curriculum and a mastery approach, children continue to learn using the concrete, pictorial and abstract (CPA) model, enabling them to develop a secure understanding of mathematical concepts and make connections across the curriculum.

As they progress through the key stage, pupils become increasingly fluent in mental and written calculation methods and apply their learning to a wide range of problem-solving and reasoning activities. They develop confidence in working with larger numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages, while also exploring shape, space and measure in meaningful contexts.

Children are encouraged to think logically, communicate their ideas using precise mathematical vocabulary and justify their reasoning. Through regular fluency practice, Times Tables Rock Stars and rich mathematical challenges, pupils develop resilience, independence and a positive attitude towards mathematics, preparing them well for the next stage of their education.

Developing Fluency at the Glebe

Developing Fluency in Mathematics

At Glebe, we recognise that fluency is at the heart of becoming a confident and successful mathematician. Fluency is more than the rapid recall of facts; it is about developing strong number sense, selecting efficient methods and applying mathematical skills across a range of contexts. When key number facts and calculation strategies become automatic, children can focus their attention on reasoning, problem-solving and deeper mathematical thinking.

Reception to Year 5

Children from Reception to Year 5 participate in the NCETM Mastering Number programme alongside their daily mathematics lessons. This programme develops secure number sense, fluency and flexibility with number, ensuring children build strong mathematical foundations and confidence in calculation. Through carefully sequenced activities and mathematical discussion, pupils develop a deep understanding of number relationships that supports success across the wider mathematics curriculum.

Numbots

To support the development of early number fluency, children in Reception, Key Stage 1 and lower Key Stage 2 use NumBots. Through fun, engaging and interactive games, NumBots helps children develop rapid recall of number bonds, addition and subtraction facts. Regular use of NumBots increases confidence and accuracy with mental calculation, enabling pupils to build the strong number sense that underpins all areas of mathematics. By securing these key facts, children are better equipped to tackle more complex mathematical concepts and problem-solving activities as they progress through the school.
Parent/Carers Introduction to Numbots Video

Times Table Rockstars

Alongside NCETM Mastering Number, children in Years 3, 4 and 5 focus on developing rapid recall of multiplication and division facts. Building on the number knowledge established in Key Stage 1, pupils strengthen their understanding of times tables through regular practice and fluency activities. We use Times Tables Rock Stars to motivate and support children in becoming fluent with multiplication facts. This secure knowledge allows them to approach more demanding calculations, reasoning tasks and problem-solving activities with greater confidence and accuracy.

Parent/Carer Introduction to TTRS Video

TTRS-Parent-Guide

Supporting your child at home with maths

At Glebe, we recognise the important role that parents and carers play in helping children achieve their full potential in mathematics. Regular practice of key mathematical skills at home helps to reinforce learning from the classroom and develop confidence and fluency.

Children are encouraged to use NumBots and Times Tables Rock Stars regularly at home. 

Numbots Game

Times Tables Rock Stars: Play

Parents and carers are kept informed about current learning through our weekly newsletter, which outlines the mathematical concepts and skills being taught in class. This provides an opportunity to discuss learning at home and support children in applying their mathematical knowledge in everyday situations.

Please see our Knowledge Organisers for key information for each year group:

Knowledge Organiser Y1

Knowledge Organiser Y2

Knowledge Organiser Y3

Knowledge Organiser Y4

Knowledge Organiser Y5

Knowledge Organiser Y6
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