At Downe Manor Primary School, we view Mathematics as being essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering and necessary in most forms of employment. We, therefore, provide a high-quality Mathematics education that gives children an understanding of the world, the ability to reason mathematically, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject. 

A large part of the time that children are in school is spent on mathematical activities. These activities are concerned with fulfilling and extending the requirements of the National Curriculum (2014). All work is differentiated in order to give appropriate levels of work and children are taught in ability groups in Year 6.

The class teacher takes responsibility for working with every child at least once a week, either individually or as part of a group. Planning is based on the new National Curriculum (2014). Programmes of Study should inform medium term plans and subsequently weekly planning. The ‘Essentials’ Curriculum Learning Objectives should be used together with National Curriculum (2014) objectives to  compose appropriate learning focussed lessons. Class teachers are responsible for the relevant provision of their own classes and develop weekly plans which give details of learning objectives and appropriate differentiated activities. Although planned in advance, they are adjusted on a daily basis or when necessary to better suit the arising needs of a class and individual pupils.  

To summarise,  it is therefore our aim at Downe Manor Primary School to develop:
• a positive and confident attitude towards Mathematics,  both as a subject as well as recognising the cross curricular links with other subjects
• competence with numbers and the number system
• enjoyment and enthusiasm for learning through practical activities, investigations and discussion
• skills through the exploration of shape, position and movement, money, time, measure, data handling and problem solving in a range of contexts
• the use of mathematics as a tool for life to solve problems
• an ability to communicate mathematical methods and strategies and to use mathematical language appropriately
• lively, engaging and challenging mathematical lessons or activities with opportunities for children to use their initiative and to work both independently and cooperatively.

Maths Passports

We have introduced a new mental Maths program called 'Maths Passports'. This starts in Year 1 and works all the way up to Year 6. Maths Passports track progression in basic number skills. These skills and facts have been identified as essential to underpinning Maths at different stages and improving children’s mental Maths skills.

Maths Passports are a personalised way of learning as the children are challenged in the passport that is appropriate for the level they are working at. They progress at their own speed onto the next stage. Each child will be given a passport with a series of targets set out in continents. These targets get progressively more challenging through the school. The children will develop instant recall skills in all the objectives – they should not be taking time to work out the answer to each question; they need to know it instantly.

The aim is for children to complete all the passports by the time they are in Year 6.  At first, it may seem that the work they are doing is easy but we want to check how fast all the children are at each objective and also allow them to achieve their targets quickly.

1. The passport targets are incorporated into the children's oral and mental starters on a daily basis.

2. Children are assessed on these targets once a week by completing a timed task.

3. When children have met an objective on three separate occasions, the target has been achieved.

4. Children continue to practice and be assessed on the remaining targets until all of the targets for a continent have been achieved. They will receive a certificate and a wristband for this achievement. They then move on to the next continent and a new set of targets.

How to help at home

We would ask that you spend 10 minutes each day practising your child’s passport skills with them. This could be walking to school, in the car, at teatime, before bed – it doesn’t need to be a sit down, formal time. 

Each child has a Mathletics password that will enable them to use http://www.mathletics.co.uk which also supports other areas of Maths such as shape, space, measure and data handling- please encourage your child to keep using the website.

1. Europe
2. Asia
3.1 Africa
3.2 South Africa
4. Australasia
5. Antarctica
6. North America
7. South America
8. Globetrotters

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If you would like to find out more about our school curriculum, please see the class teacher or Miss Gumbs.