St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

At St Joseph’s we know that understanding basic mathematics is an essential life skill, and a good start at primary school paves the way for success at secondary school and beyond. Our Scheme of work covers the full scope of the EYFS curriculum (number and numerical patterns) and the National Curriculum. However, it offers even greater challenge to the pupils and teachers alike. This reflects our highly ambitious curriculum that has led to consistently higher than average outcomes in mathematics over the last 15 years. The sequence in which pupils learn concepts is constantly refined to ensure that pupils have plenty of opportunities to overlearn key concepts, so they can commit these to their long-term memory. Focusing on pre skills, practise and repetition allows pupils to free up some aspects of their 'working knowledge' so that they can, overtime, know more and remember more.

Links to mathematics are made across all subjects in the curriculum however dedicated maths lessons take place every day.  Mathematical activities provide opportunities for intellectual challenge, aesthetic pleasure and creativity. Aspects of reasoning and problem solving are woven in throughout our scheme of work to enable pupils to deepen their conditional knowledge.  These are directly linked to the concepts pupils are covering enabling them to apply their knowledge and develop a deeper understanding through fluency.

 During daily Maths lessons, all pupils take part in a ‘Fluency in Five’ activity, which provides regular opportunities to recap and consolidate prior learning. These short, focused activities allow children to practise and strengthen a range of mathematical skills, including arithmetic, while developing and maintaining fluency in both written and mental calculations. This consistent approach supports pupils in building confidence, accuracy and efficiency when applying their mathematical knowledge and ensures that key skills are regularly revisited and embedded over time.

  In Early Years, mathematics is taught daily through a combination of focused teaching and carefully planned continuous     provision. Children develop their mathematical understanding through meaningful, practical experiences and learn   through play, number games, rhymes, songs, puzzles, construction, role play and everyday routines. These   experiences provide opportunities for children to develop confidence with number, counting, subitising, shape, space,   measure and patterns. Adults skilfully model mathematical language and questioning, encouraging children to talk about   their ideas and develop their reasoning.

 

 

 

 

 

As children move into Key Stage 1, they build on their Early Years experiences through structured daily mathematics   lessons. There is a strong emphasis on developing number sense, fluency and a secure understanding of the   four operations. Pupils use practical resources, pictorial representations and mathematical language to support their understanding before progressing towards more abstract methods. Regular opportunities for reasoning and problem- solving enable children to apply their knowledge and explain their mathematical thinking. 

 

 

 

 

In Key Stage 2, pupils continue to develop increasingly secure and efficient mathematical strategies. Lessons build progressively on prior knowledge and provide opportunities to develop fluency, reasoning and problem-solving. Children are encouraged to select appropriate methods, justify their answers, identify patterns and make connections across different areas of mathematics. Regular retrieval and practice help pupils to maintain and deepen their understanding and develop confidence and accuracy.

Across all year groups, we aim to develop positive attitudes towards mathematics, encouraging pupils to be resilient, curious and confident mathematicians who understand that making mistakes is an important part of learning. Mathematics is also linked to real-life contexts and other areas of the curriculum wherever appropriate, helping children to recognise the importance and relevance of mathematics in everyday life.

At St Joseph’s the quality of teaching is most important, with pupils rating a good and enthusiastic teacher as the greatest influence in their enjoyment of mathematics.

In Early Years we provide an ambitious framework for success focusing on early number and emphasising the empty set (zero). From year one onwards, pupils are set three ways according to their mathematical understanding. This allows pupils to succeed within their capabilities as well as supporting learners through small groups, dedicated adult support and challenging our most able pupils. We follow our own Scheme of Work tailored to the needs of our pupils. Repetition and overlearning is crucial throughout the Scheme of Work.  Within lessons pupils are building upon their prior knowledge and repeat previous key concepts taught to ensure knowledge becomes embedded into their long-term memory. Mathematical vocabulary, key facts, formulae and methods in each year group are repeated throughout the Scheme of Work to ensure pupils declarative and procedural knowledge.

Our results show excellent progress from entry at foundation stage, through to the end of Year 6 and progress in mathematics was deemed as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted at our last inspection.

Enrichment

Maths enrichment is an important part of our primary school curriculum, providing opportunities for children to develop their mathematical knowledge, skills and confidence beyond their everyday lessons. We offer engaging Maths Clubs for both KS1 and KS2 pupils, where children can explore mathematical games, challenges and problem-solving activities in a fun and supportive environment. Pupils are also encouraged to take part in a range of times tables competitions, helping to develop fluency, accuracy and enthusiasm for learning. Our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils enjoyed a financial education workshop this year provided by The Money Charity, where they developed valuable knowledge about money, budgeting and making informed financial decisions. We also welcome parents into school for our Year 2 Maths Morning, providing an opportunity for children and families to enjoy practical maths activities together and learn more about how mathematics is taught in school. Through these enrichment opportunities, we aim to promote a positive attitude towards maths and inspire all children to become confident, curious and enthusiastic mathematicians.

Times Tables

Times tables are a fundamental part of mathematical learning. Developing quick and accurate recall of multiplication and division facts gives children the confidence and fluency they need to tackle a wide range of mathematical concepts.

 Why are times tables so important?

Knowing times tables fluently and securely helps children to:

• Develop confidence when solving mathematical problems.
• Complete calculations more quickly and accurately.
• Understand multiplication and division.
• Develop their understanding of fractions, decimals and percentages.
• Solve problems involving money, measures, area and perimeter.
• Recognise patterns and relationships between numbers.
• Access more complex mathematical concepts without being held back by basic calculations.
• Develop efficient mental calculation strategies.

When children can recall multiplication facts automatically, they have more working memory available to think about the problem they are solving.

National Curriculum Expectations

The National Curriculum places a strong emphasis on multiplication and division facts, with expectations developing across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Year 2

By the end of Year 2, pupils are expected to recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 times tables, including recognising the relationship between multiplication and division.

Children should begin to develop fluency and confidence, using their knowledge of multiplication facts to solve calculations and simple problems.

Year 3

By the end of Year 3, pupils are expected to recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 times tables, alongside the 2, 5 and 10 times tables learned previously.

Year 4

By the end of Year 4, pupils are expected to recall multiplication and division facts for multiplication tables up to and including 12 × 12.

Year 4 pupils also take the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). This is an online assessment designed to check pupils' fluency in recalling multiplication facts.

Daily Practice Makes a Difference - Little and often is the key!

Regular practice helps multiplication facts move from short-term memory into long-term memory, making recall increasingly automatic.

Teachers encourage children to practise their times tables every day, even if it is only for a few minutes.

Times Tables Rock Stars

The school uses Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) as a resource to help develop pupils’ multiplication fluency.

TTRS provides pupils with an engaging way to practise their tables and develop speed, accuracy and confidence. Pupils can practise independently and regularly, allowing them to revisit facts they already know while working on those they are still developing.

We encourage pupils to use TTRS at home as part of their daily times tables practice.

Home - Times Tables Rock Stars     

 

Throughout the year children take part in Times Tables Rockstars competitions and compete to win the St Joseph’s TTRS Trophy.

   

 

 

 

 

Dedicated Times Tables Lessons

Times tables are given dedicated teaching and practice time in school.

Teachers explicitly teach multiplication and division facts, develop children's understanding of multiplication, and provide opportunities for pupils to practise and apply their knowledge from Year 2 onwards.

Children are encouraged to use a range of strategies, including:

• Repeated addition
• Arrays and groups
• Number patterns
• Known facts to work out unknown facts
• Multiplication and division relationships
• Mental calculation strategies
• Reasoning and problem solving

Regular retrieval and repetition help children to maintain and build their fluency.

Times Tables is the building blocks of maths. Times tables underpin many areas of mathematics.

For example, knowing 6 × 7 = 42 helps a child to understand:

42 ÷ 7 = 6
42 ÷ 6 = 7
60 × 7 = 420
6 × 70 = 420
7 × 6 = 42

These facts can then support learning about fractions, area, written methods, decimals, percentages and problem solving.

The stronger children's multiplication knowledge becomes, the more confidently they can approach new mathematical learning.

How can parents help at home?

Practise little and often!

Just 5–10 minutes of times tables practice each day can make a significant difference.

• Practise one times table together.
• Ask quick-fire multiplication questions.
• Practise multiplication and division facts.
• Use everyday opportunities — for example, "How many wheels would 6 bicycles have?"
• Ask children to explain how they know an answer.
• Use songs, rhymes and games to make practice enjoyable.
• Encourage your child to practise regularly on Times Tables Rockstars.

Celebrate progress, encourage your child and make practice fun. Speed is important, but accuracy, understanding and confidence come first.

Learn it. Practise it. Recall it. Use it.

Parents can further support their child’s mathematical development at home by playing board games, puzzles and jigsaws are a great way to provide fun mathematical experiences. It’s also important to show how we use maths skills in our everyday lives and to involve children in activities such as baking and shopping.

The mathematics curriculum is enriched by:

• Maths projects on DB Primary for all year groups
• Number Blocks for Early Years (CBeebies)
• Maths club for KS1 (Autumn term)
• Maths club KS2 (Spring term)
• Maths morning working with parents in Y2
• Topmarks - Free Interactive Learning Games, Maths Worksheets & Teaching Resources - Topmarks  (all year groups)
• Home - Times Tables Rock Stars (Year 2 -6)
• Maths Games for KS2: designed by a teacher for teachers - Mathsframe (Year 3 – 6)

• Point out the different shapes to be found around your home.
• Take your child shopping and talk about the quantities of anything you buy.
• Let your child handle money and work out how much things cost.
• Look together for numbers on street signs and car registration plates

Tutor Bot contains completely free online maths games where children can practice their mathematics skills.  Featuring over 100 different customisable games which we hope kids will find to be a fun and new way to improve their mathematics fluency, accuracy and speed.

Updated September 2026