Mathematics
What makes an effective Maths student at Weston?
Maths is a central part of the Weston Primary School Curriculum. It is the school’s vision to produce fluent 
mathematicians through providing all children with a secure conceptual understanding and efficiency in procedural approaches; this is reflected in the school's policy document - 'The Teaching of Mathematics at Weston' (see below). We believe in the importance of making connections between concrete materials, models and images, mathematical language, symbolic representation and prior knowledge. By following a mastery Maths approach, we ensure that children have the opportunity to practice key skills whilst developing their understanding and application to more complex questioning.
About Mathematics - Our Curriculum
At Weston, we use the Oak National Academy maths curriculum to help every child build strong, secure mathematical knowledge. The Oak curriculum has been carefully designed by experienced teachers and maths specialists, working alongside organisations such as the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) and MEI.
The curriculum is:
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Sequenced and structured – topics are broken into clear steps, helping children make steady progress and build on what they already know.
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Balanced – it develops both quick recall of key facts (such as times tables) and a deep understanding of mathematical ideas.
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Vocabulary-rich – each unit highlights key words so children can explain their thinking confidently.
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Accessible for all – with built-in support and practice to help every learner succeed, including those with additional needs.
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Flexible – lessons include high-quality resources, examples, and practice activities that we can adapt to meet the needs of our pupils.
Children work through carefully planned units covering the main areas of maths, including number, calculation, fractions, shape, measure, statistics, algebra, ratio, and probability (at age-appropriate levels). This ensures they leave primary school confident, fluent, and ready for the next stage of their learning.
We also use a programme called Mastery of Number to help deepen our pupils understanding of maths. Mastery of Number is a programme developed by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) to help pupils in Reception, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2 secure firm foundations in number.
Here’s a clear explanation you could use with parents:
What is Mastery of Number?
The Mastery of Number programme is designed to give children a deep understanding and confidence with number facts, especially around number bonds and times tables. The focus is on:
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Fluency with number facts – making sure children can recall key facts quickly and use them flexibly.
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Confidence with additive and multiplicative relationships – helping children to see how numbers link together (e.g. 7 + 3 = 10, so 70 + 30 = 100).
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Strong number sense – developing a feel for how numbers work, including place value, patterns, and relationships between numbers.
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Use of visual models and manipulatives – such as tens frames, rekenreks, and number lines to build secure understanding.
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Daily practice – short, regular sessions that give children repeated exposure and opportunities to reason about numbers.
The aim is that children don’t just memorise facts but understand them deeply, so they can apply their knowledge flexibly and with confidence in all areas of maths.
Our lead for Maths is Ms Barrett.
Useful Links:
The following links can be used for some further activities at home to consolidate a range of skills.
