Mathematics

At Breadsall Hill Top Primary School, we use Power Maths as a basis of our maths lesson. This is an exciting mastery approach, which has been recommended by the DfE, that works for every child.  It is based upon the concrete, pictorial and abstract approach also referred to as CPA.

What is Power Maths?

Power Maths is a resource that has been designed for UK schools based on research and extensive experience of teaching and learning around the world and here in the UK. It has been designed to support and challenge all pupils, and is built on the belief that EVERYONE can learn maths successfully.

How does this support our approach to teaching?

The philosophy behind Power Maths is that being successful in maths is not just about rote-learning procedures and methods, but is instead about problem solving, thinking and discussing. Many people feel they were taught maths in a way that was about memorising formulas and calculation methods, then having to apply them without any real understanding of what or how these methods actually work. Power Maths includes practice questions to help children develop fluent recall and develop their conceptual understanding. Power Maths uses growth mind-set characters to prompt, encourage and question children. They spark curiosity, engage reasoning, secure understanding and deepen learning for all. 

How will the lessons work?

Each lesson has a progression, with a central flow that draws the main learning into focus. There are different elements, informed by research into best practice in maths teaching, that bring the lessons to life:

• Review - children start their lesson by reviewing learning from earlier within a topic, last week or of a previous lesson.  This recaps previous learning and also helps close gaps in children’s learning if they struggled with a concept or forgot something.
• Discover – after Review, children are faced with a problem to solve, often a real-life example, sometimes a puzzle or a game. These are engaging and fun, and designed to get all children thinking.
• Share – the class shares their ideas and compares different ways to solve the problem, explaining their reasoning with hands-on resources and drawings to make their ideas clear. Children are able to develop their understanding of the concept with input from the teacher.
• Guided Practice – the next part of the lesson is a journey through the concept, digging deeper and deeper so that each child builds on secure foundations while being challenged to apply their understanding in different ways and with increasing independence.
• Challenges – now children practice individually or in small groups, rehearsing and developing their skills to build fluency, understanding of the concept and confidence.

What if my child needs a confidence boost, or wants to be challenged further?

Power Maths is based on a ‘small-steps’ approach, sometimes called a mastery approach. This means that the concepts are broken down so that your child can master one idea without feeling over-whelmed. There are a range of fluency, reasoning and problem solving questions in each lesson that are designed to support the different needs and confidence levels within a class, while at the same time fostering a spirit of working and learning together. Each lesson includes a challenge question for those children who can delve deeper into a concept.

Our children understand the importance of mathematics, are encouraged to be confident in numeracy and to apply the skills that they learn to problem solving. The activities cover a wide range of mathematical knowledge, which are supported by “knowledge organisers” that develop mathematical vocabulary and understanding of the key concepts for each area.  Children are encouraged to look back at these in order to enable them to become independent learners. In each lesson there is a short and simple fluency session.  'Times Table Rockstars' is used both within class sessions and at home to promote quick recall of multiplication and division facts through fun learning.

We build on skills and understanding in a step by step and progressive way and continue to develop place value, the four number operations and the understanding of fractional parts, as well as shape, space and measure. BHTP is part of the NCETM Maths Hub and we continue to develop our practice in line with theirs. There are extra activities throughout the year to promote mathematical skills and thinking including participation in World Maths Day, Numbers Day and parental workshops.

BHTP Power Maths Summer Home Learning Support for Year Groups