Maths at Alderbury & West Grimstead CE Primary School

Mathematics at Alderbury & West Grimstead CE Primary School

At Alderbury and West Grimstead School, all children will become resilient, fluent mathematicians with an ability to tackle problem solving.

At AWGS, we aim to inspire every pupil to develop a love of Mathematics by providing them with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to be successful. Our curriculum is designed to build secure understanding, encourage curiosity and enable children to apply their learning to real‑life situations.

Our Maths Curriculum

We follow the White Rose Maths curriculum, which provides a clear, progressive structure from Early Years to Year 6. Concepts are taught in carefully planned blocks, allowing children the time they need to master key ideas before moving on. This approach ensures:

• Deep, secure understanding

• Regular revisiting of key concepts

• Opportunities to apply learning in a range of contexts

• Strong foundations for future mathematical learning

You can view the full year overview for your child’s year group by clicking this link.

Our Approach to Teaching Mathematics

We offer pupils a rich, varied and enjoyable experience as mathematicians. Our teaching reflects the three main aims of the National Curriculum:

1. Fluency

Children develop rapid and accurate recall of number facts and methods, enabling them to work confidently and efficiently.

2. Reasoning

Pupils learn to explain their thinking, justify their answers and use mathematical vocabulary with increasing precision.

3. Problem Solving

Children apply their knowledge to a wide range of problems, make connections between concepts, and explore different strategies.

Mathematics in Early Years

In Early Years, Mathematics focuses on:

• Counting and ordering numbers to 20

• Understanding one more and one less

• Early addition and subtraction using practical resources

• Doubling, halving and sharing

• Exploring shapes and patterns

• Using everyday language to describe size, weight, capacity, position, time and money

Children learn through hands‑on exploration, play and meaningful real‑world experiences.

Mathematics in Key Stage 1

In KS1, pupils build confidence with:

• Number and place value

• Addition and subtraction

• Multiplication and division

• Shape, space and measure

• Using mathematical vocabulary to explain their thinking

Learning is practical and supported by concrete resources and pictorial representations. This provides a strong foundation for the more abstract concepts introduced in Key Stage 2. Children also experience regular Number Sense lessons to secure factual fluency.

Mathematics in Key Stage 2

In KS2, pupils deepen their understanding through:

• More complex calculations

• Fractions, decimals and percentages

• Ratio and proportion

• Algebra

• Statistics

• Accurate use of measuring instruments

• Applying knowledge to multi‑step problems

Children continue to develop fluency, precision and confidence, including secure recall of multiplication tables up to 12 × 12, which are assessed as part of the national Year 4 Multiplication Times Table Check.

Supporting Maths at Home

We encourage families to explore the White Rose Parent Resources, which include videos, guidance and downloadable materials to support learning at home.