Mathematics

At Braywick Court School, we believe mathematics is a powerful, lifelong, and transferable skill that enables children to understand and shape the world around them. We are committed to developing confident, fluent, and resilient mathematicians who think deeply about mathematical concepts, make connections across the curriculum, reason and justify with clarity, and approach challenge with curiosity and determination.

Through our mastery approach, underpinned by Power Maths and Mastering Number, we ensure that all children build a secure conceptual understanding, develop automaticity through daily practice, and apply their knowledge to solve problems in meaningful contexts.

Mathematics at Braywick Court School is not about speed, it is about deep understanding, reasoning, and making sense of the world.

The Five Pillars of Mathematics

Maths Mastery

We have adopted the Mastery Maths approach to teaching mathematics. This journey begins in Early Years (EYFS) and continues through Year 6, with each year carefully building upon prior learning.

Our pedagogy centres on the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM’s) Five Big Ideas:

• Coherence: Lessons are broken down into small, connected steps that gradually unfold a concept. This clear sequencing provides access for all pupils, leads to generalisation, and allows children to make connections to previously learned facts.

• Representation and Structure: Representations used in lessons expose the underlying mathematical structure. Using a consistent Concrete, Pictorial, and Abstract (CPA) approach, visual and physical tools are carefully chosen to help pupils access abstract concepts.

• Mathematical Thinking: To understand ideas deeply, pupils must work on them actively. We use STEM sentences, structured talk partner scenarios ('think, pair, share'), and continuous reasoning opportunities so pupils can explain, justify, and prove their mathematical thinking.

• Fluency: Automaticity and flexibility are built on deep understanding. Pupils develop quick and efficient recall of key mathematical facts and procedures, allowing them to move flexibly between different representations and contexts without cognitive overload.

• Variation:

  • Conceptual Variation: Presenting a mathematical idea from multiple angles (using standard examples, non-standard examples, and non-examples) to draw attention to essential features.

  • Procedural Variation: Deliberately sequencing questions and exercises ("If you know this, what else do you know?") to draw attention to mathematical relationships and structures.

Power Maths Guide

Mastering Number

Early Years & Key Stage 1 (Reception - Year 3) 

We follow the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) Mastering Number programme. This initiative ensures our younger pupils develop number sense, flexible thinking, and calculation fluency as they transition into Key Stage 2. To complement their learning in class, pupils in Key Stage 1 also build confidence through the engaging online platform Numbots.

Key Stage 2 (Years 4 - 6) 

As children progress, our focus shifts to mastering multiplication and division facts, alongside tackling multi-step mathematical problems. Teachers guide pupils through structured problem-solving while utilising platforms such as Times Tables Rock Stars and Ninja Tough Ten to keep practice motivating and rewarding.

Reception Mastering Number

Year 1 Mastering Number

Year 2 Mastering Number

Key Stage 2 Mastering Number

Mental Arithmetic & Fluency