Maths
At Thanet Primary we are all mathematicians!
At our Thanet Primary, we are committed to providing every child with a strong mathematical foundation from the Early Years onwards, ensuring they leave us fully prepared for the challenges of secondary education. We believe that all pupils are entitled to a rich, engaging and inclusive maths curriculum that builds the cultural capital, skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life.
Our vision is for all pupils—regardless of background, gender, ability, or need—to enjoy mathematics and to grow into confident, independent mathematicians. Through high-quality, adaptive teaching, we support every child to achieve their full potential and to see themselves as capable learners.
Throughout their mathematical journey, pupils will be encouraged to develop the key characteristics of successful mathematicians, including:
· A secure understanding of important mathematical concepts and the ability to make meaningful connections across different areas of maths
· A broad range of skills in using and applying mathematics in real-life and abstract situations
· Fluent recall of number facts and confidence with the number system
· Initiative and perseverance when reasoning and solving problems in a wide variety of contexts
· The confidence to think independently and the resilience to overcome challenges
· An appreciation of the value of mistakes as opportunities for learning
· The ability to reason clearly, think systematically and explain their methods
· Fluency in both mental and written calculations using efficient mathematical techniques
· A rich and precise mathematical vocabulary
· A genuine interest, commitment and enthusiasm for the subject
By nurturing these qualities, we aim to develop lifelong learners who are mathematically confident, culturally aware and equipped with the essential skills needed for future success.
At Thanet, we are all mathematicians. From the very start of their journey in Nursery, children explore numbers, shape, space and measure through a hands-on, immersive approach woven throughout the curriculum. As pupils move through the school, our aim is for every child to develop a secure, confident understanding of mathematics through a progressive mastery approach, using concrete resources, pictorial representations and abstract thinking.
We strive for all children to become fluent and automatic in core arithmetic skills while also developing into capable, flexible problem solvers. With a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, our intention is that pupils leave Thanet able to apply their learning with increasing sophistication across a wide range of contexts, setting them up for future success.
Implementation
A love of mathematics is nurtured as children enter Reception, where the formal teaching of number and shape builds on the strong foundations of the EYFS curriculum. Learning in the Early Years is rooted in purposeful play and exploration, supported by rich indoor and outdoor environments that spark curiosity and mathematical thinking.
Across the school, we follow the White Rose Maths curriculum (adapted by teachers for their children and cohort’s needs) covering number, shape, statistics and measure. Every unit and lesson follows a clear structure that develops understanding through concrete, pictorial and abstract (CPA) approaches. This ensures that children build deep, connected knowledge that they can draw upon when encountering new ideas.
Each lesson begins with a mental arithmetic starter—supported by Big Maths—and these skills are assessed weekly. Learning journeys and key vocabulary are shared with pupils at the start of each lesson so they can see how their knowledge will progress over time.
Lessons include a balance of fluency, reasoning and problem-solving, and challenge, ensuring all children are appropriately challenged. We encourage pupils to articulate their thinking using sentence stems and full sentences, strengthening their mathematical reasoning and vocabulary.
Throughout lessons, children have access to a wide range of high-quality resources, including Numicon, Base 10, place value counters, part-whole models, bar models, place value grids and hundred squares. Where needed, targeted follow-up intervention ensures every child can access and secure the learning.
Impact
To assess pupils’ understanding and track their progress, we use end-of-unit assessments that help identify strengths and pinpoint any gaps in learning. This ensures teaching is responsive and that all children continue to move forward.
With their strong foundations and deep conceptual understanding, our pupils leave Thanet able to apply mathematical knowledge confidently and flexibly in a range of contexts. They are well-prepared for the next stage of their education and ready to embrace the challenges of more sophisticated mathematical thinking.
Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS)
At Thanet, we recognise the importance of securing Times Table knowledge, that this is the foundational skills which…
To ensure pupils in Years 1–6 take part in Times Tables Rock Stars, an exciting and highly effective programme designed to build rapid recall and confidence in multiplication and division. TTRS cements children’s conceptual understanding by helping them recognise the relationships between number facts, using sophisticated question sequencing, adaptive gameplay and the use of inverse operations.
TTRS brings energy and enthusiasm to maths across the school and creates a real buzz around times tables. During lesson time, teachers use TTRS in a variety of ways, including:
· Interactive teaching tools on the whiteboard
· Paper worksheets
· Small group intervention sessions
· Times tables tournaments between classes or schools
· Celebrating achievements in Rock Star assemblies
Pupils also complete homework challenges through the app or online browser, allowing them to practise regularly and progress at their own pace.
Children love TTRS—and often don’t even realise they’re learning! The motivational, game-style design includes rewards such as earning virtual coins, customising rock avatars and climbing the leaderboard from New Artist to Rock Hero.
Across the school, we embrace the fun: from playing the official rock music playlist during practice sessions to hosting red-carpet events and dress-up days where pupils become real-life rock stars.
At Thanet, times tables have never been so exciting—or so effective.
Maths Calculation Policy
At Thanet, we are committed to ensuring that all pupils develop secure, confident and consistent methods for calculating across all areas of mathematics. Our Maths Calculation Policy provides a clear, progressive approach to teaching written and mental calculation strategies from the Early Years through to Year 6.
The policy ensures that:
· Methods are consistent across the school, so pupils build on previous learning rather than encountering unfamiliar approaches
· Teaching follows a Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract (CPA) progression, helping children develop deep understanding before moving on to more formal methods
· Pupils are taught efficient, reliable strategies that prepare them for the next stage of their education
· Adults, parents and carers can clearly see how calculation skills develop over time
· Adaptations can be made to support all learners, while still following the same progression of skills
The policy outlines the agreed methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, showing how pupils move from using practical equipment, to visual models, and finally to formal written methods. This ensures a smooth learning journey and a shared approach across every year group.
By following this structured progression, we help pupils become confident, accurate and independent mathematicians who can apply calculation skills in a range of contexts.
If you would like to view our full Maths Calculation Policy, please see the document below.