Calculation policy

This policy aims to provide an overview of the three developmental strands of Maths mastery teaching: concrete, pictorial and abstract. As a school, we believe that all children, when introduced to a new concept, should have the opportunity to build competency by taking this approach.   

 

Concrete: Children should have the opportunity to use physical objects and models to help them understand what they are doing. This strand will largely be covered in class to introduce new mathematical concepts. 

Pictorial: After a basic understanding of a new concept, children will be moved on to pictorial representations.  These representations can then be used to help reason and solve problems.

Abstract: Both concrete and pictorial representations should support children’s understanding of abstract, written methods. These often take the form of formal calculation methods (for example, column addition). This is what children will be expected to achieve and apply by the end of the year.

 

In order to deliver the mathematics curriculum we are using the Power Maths scheme of work which embraces the concrete, pictorial, abstract approach within real life settings. The scheme supports children through small steps within a unit to become competent and confident mathematicians.