Maths at Mercenfeld

The National Curriculum for maths aims to ensure that children:

- become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics;
- are able to reason mathematically;
- can solve problems by applying their mathematics.

Here at Mercenfeld, we aim for all children to enjoy maths and to recognise the importance of maths in the wider world. We want to raise standards across the school and provide more opportunity to practise fluency skills; as well as answer and explain reasoning and problem solving activities. We want all children to experience challenge and success in maths by developing a growth mindset, the children’s curiosity and resilience for the subject.

Engaging activities, such as Times Tables Rock Stars, help to promote the enjoyment of maths whilst the important number skills are embedded within our maths lessons and developed consistently over time. Most maths lessons are delivered in accordance with the White Rose Maths small steps progression. Mathematical topics are taught in blocks, to enable the achievement of mastery over time. This focus on depth eventually leads to greater progress because it gives all learners the chance to become secure in their understanding. A secure understanding of the fundamental skills needed in maths will help our children throughout primary school and to prepare them for the next stage of their education.

We use a variety of teaching methods and resources that allow all pupils access to maths. Children will be supported and challenged in lessons. With the use of images and practical equipment, our pupils can gain confidence as independent learners to use resources, record jottings and solve problems. A variety of manipulatives or apparatus can be used in the classroom whenever needed, including place value counters, ten frames, number lines, Numicon and Diennes.

Revisiting number skills plays a central role in helping to commit learning to long-term memory. In addition to daily maths lessons, children will practise their mental and arithmetic knowledge in order to reinforce and consolidate previous learning; increase fluency, speed and accuracy; and improve confidence. Regular use of Times Tables Rock Stars, Numbots, Fluent in Five, Flashback 4, Numberblocks and the PIXL app, both at school and at home, will enable children to practise and retain the number skills and strategies needed to be successful in their learning.

Times Tables

Being fluent with times tables facts is extremely important if children are to be successful mathematicians. The national expectation is that children should know all the times tables facts to 12×12 by the end of Year 4.

The programmes of study from the National Curriculum state the year group expectations as follows:

Year 2
Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables.

Year 3
Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables.

Year 4
Recall and use multiplication and division facts for multiplication tables up to 12×12.

86 860869 Math Math Symbol Math Clip Art

As children continue with their learning in KS2, a lot of the rich, interesting maths is all about the multiplicative relationships and these are hard to fully grasp without the fluent recall of the tables. All Year 4 children will have to sit a Multiplication Tables Check from 2021. This check consists of 25 questions, up to 12×12. The children get 6 seconds from the time the question appears to input their answer on a computer. This means that children must be able to read, recall and enter their response within the given time. In the check, there is a focus on questions from the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 times tables. A useful link to try a similar check is Multiplication Tables Check.

Useful Links for Times Tables

Play TTRS
TT Rockstars

Fun, active songs to help learn your times tables and other areas of maths
BBC
The songs and videos from Mr DeMaio are also really good for KS2. You can search for them on YouTube.