Mastering Maths at Elloughton 

Why do we teach Maths?

Mathematical thinking and numeracy are life enriching skills which play a vital role in allowing your children to participate fully in society. All areas of our adult lives from working in industry and science to voting require us to have a rich and meaningful maths education. Our aim is to ensure that your children, regardless of background, receive a maths education that prepares them for secondary school; future adventures; and adult life as part of a numerate and ever changing workforce. 

What does Maths look like at Elloughton?

Maths is taught throughout our school from Nursery to Year 6 on a daily basis. Lessons, experiences and activities and learning are carefully designed by our staff to meet the needs of your children. We use White Rose Maths to support the planning process, ensure consistency across school and build upon specific mathematical vocabulary. Our belief is that everyone can achieve and enjoy maths. 
Each stage of learning is seen as a journey; where we move from prior learning to acquiring new skills. We believe strongly in the use of concrete resources to support and develop deep understanding across the maths curriculum, as well as seeing connections and relevance in other subjects and real life. This understanding, supported by pictorial representations and well planned small steps provide your children with the ability to think mathematically, identify patterns, and reason how and why something works, as well as become problem solvers ready for life in the global mathematical world.


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​We teach multiplication tables in school using ‘Tables Stick®’. We have been using Tables Stick® since the Autumn term 2023 and have seen huge benefits already. 

Why Tables Stick®?
In line with EEF (Education Endowment Foundation) guidance for improving the teaching of maths, Tables Stick® provides a strategy-based approach for the teaching of times tables, supported by Tables Stick® which uses practical resources to deepen understanding and scaffold learning so the facts make sense for all children. As with all resources, it is how they are used that makes the difference. The Tables Stick® YouTube channel supports this approach and provides videos for each times table. 

This approach builds on what children already know and emphasises the rich patterns and connections between mathematical facts, locking them into long-term memory for fluent recall and application.

We understand the importance, and application, of times table knowledge, and place a lot of emphasis on teaching these from Year 2 up until they leave primary school. Prior to this in Year 1, the children use their Tables Stick® to count forwards and backwards in 2s, 5s and 10s. All our staff are consistent with the order and vocabulary used as this helps lessen the load on children’s working memories.

Rote learning is not enough to help children recall or apply their table facts.
A strategy-based approach is required to allow children to understand and
make use of the properties of and connections within maths.
Archimedes Maths Hub (2017)
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The National Curriculum requires pupils to be fluent in mathematical concepts; to be able to reason mathematically; and to solve problems of increasing complexity. We plan for this every day, but teach so much more including a life long love of maths. We ask for parents to support this at home though two home learning apps - TT RockStars and Doodle Maths. 

Please watch this video explaining the Year 4 multiplication check. Please click here to view the official government 'Information for parents' provided by the Standards & Testing Agency.

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