My name is Emma Booth and I have been a teacher at Stanway Primary School for 13 years. I have thoroughly enjoyed leading Maths for the past three years. During this time, I have been passionate about developing a strong and consistent approach to Mathematics that supports all childen in becoming confident and capable mathematicians.

I believe that Maths is a vital life skill as it plays an important role in so many aspects of everyday life, from managing money and telling the time to solving problems and thinking logically. These skills are essential not only in school but also in the wider world.

I have enjoyed driving Maths forward at Stanway Primary School, working alongside colleagues to ensure our curriculum is engaging, accessible and challenging for all pupils.

My aim is to help every child develop a deep understanding of Maths that they can apply to real life situations. As someone who loved Maths as a young child, I am passionate about inspiring that same love in our pupils, helping them to see Maths as exciting, meaningful and full of opportunities.

Mathematics at Stanway Primary School

At Stanway Primary School, we believe Mathematics is a vital life skill that allows children to think logically, solve problems and make sense of the world around them. Our approach to Maths develops confident learners who can reason, apply their knowledge and make meaningful connections across different areas of learning.

Building Strong Foundations

From the very beginning, children are supported to develop a deep understanding of key mathematical concepts. We place great importance on children developing fluency within the subject. Regular practice and revisiting learning ensures that children gain a deep and fluent understanding of concepts which they can then apply to deeper thinking, reasoning and problem-solving style questions.

Developing Confident Mathematicians

At Stanway, we nurture children to become confident and articulate mathematicians. We encourage them to:

• Share and compare different methods
• Explain their thinking clearly
• Use precise mathematical vocabulary
• Learn collaboratively through discussion

By talking about their ideas and listening to others, children deepen their understanding and build resilience in their learning.

 Mastery Through Application

We believe that true understanding comes from applying knowledge in a range of contexts. Children are given opportunities to:

• Solve rich and varied problems
• Make links between different mathematical concepts
• Use mental strategies efficiently
• Develop reasoning skills

This approach ensures that children not only learn Maths but can use it confidently in everyday life.

A Consistent and Thoughtful Approach

Our Maths curriculum is carefully planned using the White Rose scheme of learning small steps to ensure consistency and progression across the school. Lessons are designed and tailored by teachers to meet the needs of every child, addressing gaps in understanding while providing challenge and depth.

Each day begins with a fluency activity, Fluent in 5, which helps children to strengthen their arithmetic skills. Daily Maths lessons begin with retrieval practice, enabling children to revisit and retain prior learning. Lessons also include the teaching of key mathematical vocabulary in context, alongside regular opportunities to develop fluency. Within each lesson, children are given opportunities to apply their learning through reasoning and problem-solving tasks. This ensures that all children develop a secure and deep understanding of the concepts being taught.

At Stanway Primary School, we also have weekly Arithmetic and Mental Maths lessons which focus on the four operations and the development of clear and consistent methods, supported by our calculation learning ladders. This structured approach helps children build confidence and avoid confusion as they progress through school, creating a secure foundation that can be applied to different mathematical concepts and when solving word problems.

Inspiring a Love of Maths

We know that every child learns differently, so our teachers use a range of teaching styles and strategies to create engaging and inclusive lessons. Whilst there is a consistent approach across the school, teachers have the flexibility to adapt their teaching to meet the needs of their class.

Above all, we aim to inspire a love of Mathematics, helping children to see its importance in everyday life, enjoy its challenge and take pride in their achievements.