Dream

• Children are exposed to well-known mathematicians to show them that maths can take them so far once they leave the classroom.
• Children are shown how maths is pivotal to so many jobs and careers to encourage them to pursue them and see how maths is a key part of everyday life. We encourage them to be ambitious and can dream of continuing maths at college, university and beyond.
• Children are driven by a motivation to reach the top of our Times Table Mountain, TT Rockstar class battle winners or to be Rockstar of the Half Term.

Believe

• Children learn to persevere in maths lessons through the Maths No Problem lesson structure where they work in groups or pairs initially (Explore) before moving on to workbooks when they have learnt the method.
• Children know that it is ok to give answers in maths that are wrong-they help us get to the right answer so they aren’t afraid to put their hand up to share their ideas.
• Through our maths curriculum, children are exposed to all areas of the subject so they can view themselves as competent mathematicians and not feel as though they aren’t able just because they find one area a challenge so they don’t lose the belief in their capabilities.
• If children do find maths challenging, teachers are well equipped with strategies to adapt their teaching so no child is left behind and they keep the belief that they can do it!
• Our curriculum teaches numerous strategies so children can select the one that they understand and prefer using. If children then get stuck when working independently, they have a bank of strategies to choose from, maintaining the belief that they are strong, capable mathematicians.

Achieve

• Children have many chances to feel success in maths: celebration assemblies where maths can be chosen as good work; certificates are given out at key points along our Times Table Mountain; calculators are given when children “plant the flag” and a mathematics badge is awarded when they complete the slalom; TT Rockstars are chosen each half term; and classes win TT Rockstar Battles and receive the trophy if overall winners for the half term.
• With their own MNP workbooks, children take pride in showing their maths work and can look back at all their successes through the year.
• Journal tasks allow children to show off their understanding and what they have achieved.
• Our classrooms are equipped to ensure children can always achieve: displays showing key strategies for them to refer to and equipment to support them in applying these strategies.

Pupils leave Westwood as competent and confident mathematicians who are fully equipped to continue their maths learning journey at high school and into adulthood. The skills and knowledge they have deepened while at Westwood ensure they grow into mathematically able adults who have the skills needed to function in a world where maths is central to many areas of life.