The National Curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all children:

• Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that children have conceptual understanding and are able to recall and apply their knowledge rapidly and accurately
• Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
• Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

Supporting your child at home

• Learning key number facts – It is vital that children learn their key number facts such as number bonds and times tables. This can and should be done at home as well as school and it is important that number facts are practised and recited regularly.
• Mathletics – Mathletics is an online maths platform that enables children to develop their maths learning through the use of fun games, activities and challenges. All children in Year 1 to 6 at Orchard have access to a Mathletics account and should access this regularly at home to develop, practise and consolidate their understanding of key areas of mathematics.
• Maths in real life contexts – Enabling your child to see the uses and benefits to mathematics in everyday life is very important and there are countless opportunities to allow your child to demonstrate what they have learned. Shopping, cooking and baking are great activities that can bring classroom learning into a real life situation.