Welcome to the Eastcroft Park Maths Page

Our Maths lead is Mrs Mitchell (Y6 class teacher)

First class BA Hons in Primary Education with QTS  specialising in Mathematics 

At Eastcroft Park we are PROUD to be MATHEMATICIANS! 

At Eastcroft Park, we want our children to feel confident and successful in Maths. We want our children to see that maths can lead to exciting opportunities in the future. Whether they’re solving problems, exploring technology or managing money, we aim to show them how maths is a skill they’ll use for life. Most importantly, we want every child to feel confident in themselves, enjoy learning, and believe that they can succeed—not just in maths, but in anything they set their minds to.

The teaching of mathematics at our school is underpinned by a commitment to building deep, lasting understanding through a carefully planned and well-sequenced curriculum. Using the Maths — No Problem! scheme, which follows the proven Singaporean approach, we ensure that children master key concepts step by step. Our lessons follow a Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract (CPA) structure which means we first explore mathematical concepts with hands-on learning before progressing to visual representations and finally to abstract symbols and numbers. This allows all children to access, enjoy and understand maths, no matter their starting point. 

Fluency, reasoning and problem-solving are at the heart of everything we do. Through Basic Skills sessions, Magic Number challenges, and engaging tools like Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS), children build number confidence, develop mental agility, and apply their knowledge in exciting, meaningful ways.

We want our children to remember their maths lessons at Eastcroft Park, to feel proud of their progress and to see themselves as capable, curious MATHEMATICIANS!

DO WE STILL FOLLOW THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM?

Absolutely; we aim to help our pupils:

* Become fluent in the core skills of mathematics through regular practice and understanding, 

*Reason confidently by exploring ideas and explaining their thinking;

*Use mathematics to solve problems in a range of situations. 

Inclusion:

 At Eastcroft Park, we believe that all children can succeed in mathematics. Tasks and activities in our maths lessons are carefully planned to be accessible to every learner while still offering the right level of challenge.

Children who grasp concepts quickly are encouraged to explore them in greater depth through problem-solving and reasoning tasks. For children with additional needs, support might include the use of practical resources (such as counters, number lines, or place value charts), visual scaffolds, worked examples, adult support, or technology where appropriate. Where needed, tasks are broken into smaller steps and learning is supported with prompts or guided practice to help children achieve the lesson objective.

 Our Maths — No Problem! approach, which follows a mastery structure, ensures that the whole class moves through learning together while allowing flexibility for support and extension. The scheme offers a spiral approach in which concepts are presented repeatedly throughout the curriculum allowing leaners to strengthen their own knowledge and self-confidence regardless of their initial fluency in Maths. Additional fluency or pre-teaching interventions are used, when needed, to help children build confidence and close gaps. We also make use of tools like Times Tables Rock Stars and Basic Skills sessions to support regular practice and reinforce key learning.

All staff work closely with the SENDCo to ensure appropriate strategies and adaptations are in place to meet individual needs and ensure maths is a positive, inclusive experience for every child.

Communication, Language and Vocabulary:

At Eastcroft Park, we recognise that language and communication are key to success in mathematics. Maths is not just about numbers—it’s also about understanding, explaining and using the right vocabulary to talk about thinking and solve problems clearly.

In every maths lesson, children are encouraged to use full sentences, explain their reasoning, and discuss different methods with their peers. Our Maths — No Problem! scheme places a strong focus on mathematical talk, giving pupils regular opportunities to use and hear correct vocabulary in context. Teachers model precise language and expect children to use key terms when sharing ideas or working collaboratively.

New vocabulary is introduced explicitly, revisited regularly, and displayed in classrooms to help children internalise and use it accurately. We also support children who may struggle with language by using visual aids, sentence stems, and paired talk to build their confidence and understanding.

By placing communication at the heart of maths learning, we aim to help our pupils develop the language they need to think deeply, explain clearly, and approach mathematical challenges with confidence.

Aspirations:

Our maths curriculum is designed to build confidence, curiosity and ambition. It encourages children to see themselves as problem-solvers and thinkers. We want pupils to understand that maths is not just a school subject—it’s a life skill that opens doors to exciting possibilities in the world around them.

Through meaningful activities, engaging discussions and tools like Times Tables Rock Stars, children begin to see the value of perseverance, accuracy and creative thinking. From exploring patterns and data to solving real-life problems, our pupils learn how maths can lead to a wide range of careers—such as engineering, architecture, coding, finance, design and technology and more. 

Above all, we want our children to feel proud of their progress and excited about where their maths learning could take them—at school, in future education, and in the world beyond.

Mental Health:

We understand that confidence in maths plays a big role in children’s overall wellbeing. Our approach aims to help pupils develop a positive mindset by creating a calm, supportive environment where mistakes are seen as part of learning. Activities like Magic Number, Basic Skills sessions, guided talk, and paired problem-solving help build resilience, teamwork and self-belief. We celebrate effort and progress, not just correct answers, so all children feel safe to take risks, persevere and grow in confidence—both in maths and beyond.

Cultural Capital:

Maths gives children important life skills that help them succeed now and in the future. From managing money and telling the time to solving real-world problems, maths is all around us. At Eastcroft Park, we aim to help children see how maths connects to everyday life and future careers—like engineering, science, technology and business. By building confidence and problem-solving skills, we give every child the tools they need to make positive choices and unlock future opportunities.

Tolerance and Diversity:

At Eastcroft Park, we believe maths should be a subject where every child feels included, valued, and capable of success. Our curriculum reflects the idea that maths is for everyone—regardless of background, gender, culture or ability. 

Children are encouraged to work collaboratively, share their thinking, and listen to different approaches. This helps build a classroom culture rooted in respect, empathy, and open-mindedness. Through paired talk, group work and whole-class discussions, pupils learn to appreciate different strategies and understand that there is often more than one way to solve a problem.

We want every child to feel represented, heard, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Nursery and Reception Maths

Nursery and Reception use Master the Curriculum which is based on White Rose Maths. This Mathematics programme involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, subitising, understanding and using numbers, calculating, simple addition and subtraction problems; and to have an understanding of numerical patterns. Children in reception work towards the Early Learning Goals for mathematics. Children complete Maths lessons daily and in reception regularly complete activities in individual maths books as well as completing tasks through continuous provision. 

Times Table Rock Stars

At Eastcroft Park we believe that when it comes to times tables, speed and accuracy are so important. The more facts a child remembers, the easier it is for them to complete their calculations. With this in mind, children from Year 2 to Year 6 are given access to Times Table Rock Stars- a fun and challenging programme designed to help students master their times tables. 

Below is an outline of the National Curriculum times tables expectations for each year group:

Year 1:

• Count in multiples of 2, 5 and 10.
• Begin to understand the concept of multiplication as repeated addition.

Year 2: 

• Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables.
•  Use multiplication and division to solve problems, including using arrays and repeated addition.

Year 3:

• Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables.
• Develop efficient mental strategies for solving multiplication and division problems.

Year 4: 

• Know all multiplication and division facts up to 12 × 12.
• Multiply and divide mentally and solve more complex problems using known facts.
•  Multiplication Tables Check (MTC): All Year 4 pupils take a national online test (usually in June) to assess their fluency in times tables up to 12 × 12.

Years 5 and 6:

• Use all times tables confidently in more complex calculations (e.g. multi-step problems, fractions, decimals, and percentages).
• Apply multiplication knowledge to formal written methods and real-life contexts.

Therefore, we would expect your child to know their 12 x 12 times tables before they leave Year 4, with Years 5 and 6 for consolidation and revision.

How can you support your child at home?

Learning times tables is a big step in building your child’s confidence in maths. Here are some easy ways to help at home:

1. Little and often is best
   Just 5–10 minutes a day can make a big difference. Keep it short and fun!

2. Use online games and apps
   Tools like Times Tables Rock Stars make learning interactive and enjoyable.

3. Sing times tables songs
   There are lots of catchy songs and YouTube videos that help children remember the patterns in each table.

4. Make it part of everyday life
   Ask quick-fire questions while walking to school, in the car, or at the dinner table—e.g. “What’s 6 x 7?”

5. Practice backwards and mixed up
   Once they’re confident counting in steps, try mixed questions and division facts too (e.g. “What’s 42 ÷ 6?”).

6. Stick a times table poster on the fridge or bedroom wall
   Seeing it every day helps facts to stick!

7. Use flashcards
   You don't need to buy them; make your own. Keep a few handy for quick practice.

8. Celebrate progress
   Praise effort, not just correct answers. Celebrate when they improve or learn a new table.

9. Be patient and positive
   If your child is finding it hard, reassure them that everyone learns at their own pace—and that it gets easier with practice.

10. Keep revisiting
    Even once they’ve “learnt” a times table, keep going back to it to keep it fresh.