Mastering Number

Christ Church is taking part in the National for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) project to support the teaching of basic maths skills in our school.

This project aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense (a deep understanding of number) for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2.

The aim over time is that children will leave KS1 and begin KS2 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. Research shows that children with secure ‘number sense’ early on will make more progress later on in Maths and across the curriculum.

In KS2 the focus is on consolidating knowledge from KS1, in Year 3 and continuing the knowledge of multiplication and division and its applications. This project enables pupils in Year 3, 4 and 5 to develop fluency and sutomaticity in multiplication and division facts and gain confidence and flexibility with number that exemplifies good number sense.

Years 1 -5 have a daily ‘Fluency and Skills’ sessions using Mastering Number in addition to their daily Maths lesson. Children in Reception will use elements of Mastering Number as part of their daily carpet sessions, that feed in to the wider provision. Over the year, the children will experience using a range of resources and representations, including a small abacus-like piece of equipment called a rekenrek.