➗ Mathematics at Ryton-on-Dunsmore

At Ryton‑on‑Dunsmore CE Academy, we passionately believe in a Maths Mastery Curriculum. This approach enables all children to develop a sustained, deep and secure understanding of mathematical concepts, supporting them to meet - and often exceed - national expectations by the end of each key stage. Through high‑quality, creative and inclusive lessons, we aim to foster excitement, curiosity and confidence in mathematics. Children are encouraged to make meaningful links between their learning and the world around them.

Our pupils will:

• Become FLUENT in mental and written calculation skills
• REASON and EXPLAIN mathematically, articulating their thinking with clarity
• SOLVE PROBLEMS by applying their knowledge in a wide range of contexts

White Rose Maths
Our curriculum is supported by White Rose Maths, which provides a clear, coherent and progressive structure to help all children achieve their potential. White Rose offers blocked units that allow teachers extended time to explore concepts in depth. These blocks are broken down into small, carefully sequenced steps, giving children the time they need to secure understanding.

Lessons promote fluency, reasoning and problem‑solving, with every child given opportunities to experience all three. Pupils who grasp concepts quickly are challenged through rich reasoning and problem‑solving tasks, rather than being accelerated onto new content prematurely.

The NCETM Five Big Ideas in Teaching for Mastery
Our mastery approach is underpinned by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) Five Big Ideas:

Coherence

Lessons are broken down into small, connected steps that gradually unfold new concepts. This ensures that all children can access the learning and develop a secure understanding that can be applied in a range of contexts.

Representation and Structure

From Nursery to Year 6, children use a wide range of concrete and pictorial representations and manipulatives. These support understanding of abstract ideas and help pupils make connections. Over time, children move confidently towards working with abstract representations alone.

Mathematical Thinking
Deep understanding requires active engagement. Children are encouraged to think mathematically - exploring ideas, reasoning with others and discussing their strategies. Talk is a vital part of learning, helping pupils to deepen and challenge their thinking.

Fluency
Fluency goes beyond speed. It includes quick and efficient recall of facts (such as times tables), accuracy in procedures and the flexibility to move between different methods and representations. Fluency supports children to reason and solve problems with confidence.

Variation
Teachers use conceptual and procedural variation to draw attention to key features of a concept. Carefully chosen examples help children understand what something is and what it is not, strengthening their grasp of underlying structures.

🎸 Times Table Rockstars
Times Table Rockstars is a fun, motivating and competitive platform that helps children learn and recall their times tables with speed and accuracy. Every child from Year 1 to Year 6 has their own unique username and password, allowing them to practise regularly and track their progress.

Through exciting games, challenges and battles, pupils build confidence, fluency and rapid recall—key foundations for success in mathematics.