Mathematics
Mathematics at Smithdown Primary School
Together We Grow
Intent
At Smithdown Primary School, our intent for mathematics is to provide a rich, balanced and progressive curriculum that enables every child to become a fluent, confident and curious mathematician. We want our pupils to develop secure conceptual understanding, reason mathematically and solve problems with increasing independence and creativity.
Mathematics at Smithdown is taught through a mastery approach, where all pupils—regardless of background or ability—are supported and challenged to achieve success. We believe that every child can succeed in maths when given the right tools, teaching and encouragement. For some learners, this may mean accessing the curriculum through additional support such as practical equipment, pictorial representations or targeted adult guidance.
Our curriculum not only develops mathematical fluency but also promotes resilience, collaboration and enjoyment. We encourage pupils to see maths as relevant and valuable in everyday life, supporting them to develop essential financial understanding and problem-solving skills for the future.
Staff receive regular updates and professional development based on the latest research, NCETM guidance and evidence-informed practice in maths education, ensuring that teaching is reflective of pupils’ needs.
We actively promote parental engagement through workshops and shared learning sessions, such as problem-solving mornings, where parents and carers learn alongside their children. Our pupils also participate in national and local events including World Maths Day, NSPCC Number Day, Times Tables Rock Stars competitions and Liverpool’s Maths Party Day, helping to build a culture of enjoyment, participation and pride in mathematics.
At Smithdown, Together We Grow means working collaboratively—pupils, staff and families—to nurture confidence, curiosity and success in mathematics.
Implementation
Our mathematics curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and follows a carefully sequenced progression of knowledge using NCETM materials as a spine for skills development from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Year 6.
We teach maths using a mastery model, ensuring all children access the same rich curriculum content while deepening understanding through reasoning and problem solving. Lessons are structured to build on prior learning and promote fluency before moving on to deeper, conceptual understanding.
Teachers use a range of high-quality resources and strategies, supported by the Smithdown Mastery Cycle, to ensure lessons are engaging, challenging and inclusive. Pupils are encouraged to explain their thinking, make connections and apply their mathematical knowledge in meaningful contexts.
To enrich reasoning and problem-solving opportunities, teachers draw on a range of high-quality resources including White Rose, I See Reasoning, and carefully designed teacher-made resources. These are used alongside NCETM materials to provide varied challenge, representation and depth.
Key features of our implementation include:
- Daily formative assessment to identify misconceptions and inform next steps.
- Clear progression in calculation through our Calculation Policy and Calculation Cycle.
- Working walls that support current learning, highlight key vocabulary and celebrate mathematical thinking.
- Use of practical, pictorial and abstract representations to embed secure understanding.
- Targeted interventions such as Plus One Maths, PIVATS and Cherry Garden to close gaps and accelerate progress for pupils working below age-related expectations.
- Regular CPD for staff, ensuring strong and current subject knowledge and pedagogy.
- Financial education delivered through partnerships with MyBnk, The DebtAware Programme and Lifesavers, linking mathematics to real-life financial literacy.
Maths lessons are interactive, pupil-focused and taught in carefully planned small steps, encouraging discussion, reasoning and exploration. We promote a classroom culture where mistakes are valued as part of learning, helping pupils build confidence and perseverance.
Through Together We Grow, we foster a shared belief that every child can achieve excellence in mathematics.
Impact
Pupils at Smithdown Primary enjoy mathematics and speak confidently about their learning. They demonstrate positive attitudes, resilience and increasing independence when tackling new challenges.
The impact of our maths curriculum is seen in:
- Strong progress across all key stages, with the majority of pupils meeting or exceeding age-related expectations.
- Improved fluency, reasoning and problem-solving skills, evidenced in pupils’ books, assessments and discussions.
- Pupil voice reflecting high levels of enjoyment, confidence and motivation.
- Regular monitoring showing clear progression and consistency across year groups.
- High parental engagement in workshops and family learning events, with positive feedback.
- Teachers’ use of feedback strategies, such as Fix-It and Further Work tasks, supporting consolidation and extension of learning to deepen learning.
Pupils are encouraged to take ownership of their progress, responding effectively to feedback. Internal and external moderation confirms that our standards are secure and that pupils achieve highly in mathematics.
Beyond attainment, pupils develop a love of mathematical thinking, curiosity about the world and the confidence to apply their skills beyond the classroom. They leave Smithdown Primary as capable, reflective and motivated learners—ready for the next stage of their education and for life.
Together We Grow — building confident mathematicians for the future.
Click here to see our Smithdown Maths Curriculum
We follow the National Curriculum guidance:
Our Whole School Overview (this shows how the programmes of study are taught progressively across the school):
Click here to view our Whole School Overview EYFS – Y6
Top tips for parents and families:
Be positive about maths. Don’t say things like, “I can’t do maths” or “I hated maths at school.” Your child might start to think like that themselves.
Point out the maths use in everyday life. Include your child in activities involving maths – such as using money, cooking and planning travel.
Praise your child for effort rather than talent – this shows them that by working hard they can always improve.
Useful Websites:
https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/
http://www.familymathstoolkit.org.uk/
Multiplication Tables Support
http://www.multiplication.com/games/all-games
http://www.teachingtables.co.uk/
Homework Activities (You will need your child’s log in details)
Mathematical Challenges
https://nrich.maths.org/primary-lower
https://nrich.maths.org/primary-upper
Games
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/3-5-years/counting
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/ordering-and-sequencing-numbers
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
Financial Education
Mathematics Chatter
Dice Game
We had lots of fun this week playing a dice game where we rolled the dice to see which counter would get to the top first!
Parts and Wholes in Reception Maths
This week we have been looking at parts that make a whole in maths. We have completed sets of jigsaws by using the parts to make a whole.

We looked at measuring in mm and looked at how our number knowledge can help us measure!
Room on the Broom
We had a fun time sharing the story of Room on the Broom in class.
We re-enacted the story, ordered broomsticks by length, and created magical spells.

Ordering Numbers
We have been busy in Year 2. We can order any given numbers from 1-100.
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Reception Maths- who has more?
In reception this week the children have been working out who has “MORE” toys. We shared the toys with Teddy and Jigsaw Jennie, we counted how many each one had and then we worked out who had more and talked about who has less.
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Subitising in Maths
This week we have been looking at arrangements and deciding how many there are. We then matched arrangements to numbers.
Partitioning in Maths
We were amazing today at partitioning 2 digit numbers into tens and ones.
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Composition of numbers ✋🏼
The children have been exploring how numbers are made of 1s 🧮
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Comparing more or less
Today we built towers using different cubes and compared them using the ‘greater than’ ‘less than’ and ‘equal to’ symbols.
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Matching Numbers to Quantity
We had a great time practicing matching numbers to quantity up to 5.
Working within 20
Some boys and girls have worked incredibly hard to be more secure with numbers up to 10 and then 20. Using practical resources they were able to create 10 in different ways.
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Maths in Reception
This week we looking at counting and making arrangements of numbers to 3.

Estimating multiples of 10 on a number line
We started to learn about a number line on Friday. We used our knowledge of 0-10 to help us to place multiples of 10 on an empty number line.
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Longer or Shorter?

Y1 have been exploring the school to find objects longer or shorter than a piece of string.
Representing numbers to 10,000
Our place value topic has started with practical lessons to recap our understanding of representing and partitioning numbers to 1000. This will help us when we begin to look at numbers to 10,000.
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Place value Y5
The children were brilliant at using place value counters to make a range of numbers at the start of our new topic!

Time
We had a great time learning all about the o’clock time and days of the week in maths.

Planned investigations!
Today the children planned an investigation about solubility. We had a range of investigations and talked about reversible and irreversible changes.

Pictogram fieldwork!
This morning year 3 have been working hard to collect information for our topic on statistics in maths. We looked out of the windows onto our very busy community to see how many different coloured cars we could see. We then collected the data into a tally chart to turn into pictograms.

Pictograms
Year 3 have stated a new and exciting maths topic, statistics. We have learnt about pictograms and today made some of our own to quiz our friends.

Making 🔟
The children have been exploring different ways to make 🔟
They used numicon, cubes and counters to show different ways to make the number 10!
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Active Adding🎲
The children were using their adding skills today to add the numbers from the dice to work out how many jumping jacks they needed to do. ⭐️
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We have been busy learning about cubes and cuboids. We used these 3d shapes to build bridges.
What do we notice about water resistance?
Today we completed an investigation about how the shape of plasticine can affect the time it takes to travel through water. We loved creating different shapes and timing it! 
Double facts!
The children have been working hard during their morning work to recall double facts. They wrote the number sentence to match – using the adding and equal sign. Great job Reception 👍🏻
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Making school cake
Today we enjoyed measuring the ingredients together and making school cake to celebrate our schools 150th birthday.🎁 🎈 🎉
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Timeline of events
We have worked super hard to create a scaled timeline of events in Liverpool and our school from 1874 to 2025. We added in things like when our school was created, the blitz in Liverpool, boys and girls merged in school and when our local mosque was built.
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Year 4 fractions
This morning in maths we looked at different fractions and made a fraction family.
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Odd and Even Numbers
Here is a game to play at home to help your child understand odd and even numbers.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zvwq2v4
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Odd and Even in Reception Maths
This week we have been practicing odd and even numbers up to 10 in maths.

Sorting 2D and 3D shapes
We have enjoyed learning the names and properties of 2D and 3D shapes. Today we thought of different ways to sort the shapes
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We have been following AB patterns using the ladybird and fine prize cow from our storybook.
Subtraction Number Bonds to 5 in Reception
This week we have been practicing learning subtraction facts of number bonds to 5.
Super fractions!
Year 3 had a great lesson reinforcing their fraction knowledge! They have been able to recognise fractions of shapes, understand the difference between the numerator and denominator and order fractions.
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X2 multiplication practice
We have had boys and girls finding multiples of 2 out on our yard. They grouped objects into 2s and then found the total. They explored so many different ways to show their 2 times tables. Super work!
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Fractions
We have been working very hard in year 3 on our new maths topic, fractions. We all enjoyed making a fractions wall and comparing the size of different fractions.

Fantastic work today
This week we have been looking at rhyming strings in literacy and subtraction in maths.
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Subtraction in Reception
This week in Reception maths we are practicing subtracting and writing numbers and subtraction number sentences.
Below are some links to some subtraction number songs to share at home.
https://ictgames.com/mobilePage/bottleTakeAway/index.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/articles/zjjbnrd
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Everton mathematics day!
Some children were invited to take part in some maths activities at Goodison Park stadium. They completed challenges and got to see the stadium. What a fun day! 🧮

Addition in Reception
This week we are practicing adding 1 using the part whole model.
Science week
Last week we had a wonderful time with our biscuit investigation. Our question to investigate ‘Does the thickness of a biscuit affect it’s breaking dunk time?’

Creating craters
We have planned out our experiments in order to see how we can measure craters
and what affects the result. We had a create time changing variables and recording our average in order to make it a fair test.
How do shadows change throughout the day?
Today we tracked and measured the length of one shadow throughout the day. We noticed that our shadow was as its shorted midday and that it moved as the sun appeared to move. We explained in our books that it is the Earth spinning on its axis that creates the different times of day. 
Consolidating our 4 times tables
We have been working very hard learning our 4 times tables. We have learnt to separate our multiples of 4 into equal groups. We have even been practicing the bus stop method for dividing.
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Making 6 and 7 in Maths
This week we are counting up to 7 objects and making 6 and 7 using other numbers including 5.

Investigating the 3x 6x 9x table.
We found patterns within each multiplication table and common multiples! 
Year 4 Multiplication
A great morning exploring the relationship between multiples and three and multiples of six.
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2-D Shape in Reception Maths
This week we have practiced learning about 2-D shapes. We talked about shape names and what they look like, created police car pictures using 2-D shapes, found real 2-D shapes outside and problem solved by making shapes using string.
Reception Parent Maths Workshop
Our last parents maths workshop was all about measures and the children took part in a range of activities with their mums. Huge thanks to all parents for coming along each week and hope to see you for future workshops.
Economic Education today with the help of Debt Aware
We spent the morning learning about the world of work, environments and salaries.
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Maths in Reception
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zf3r96f
The children have had fun counting objects and matching and recognising numbers to 5 over the last two weeks. The link above will take you to a game to play home to further support the children’s learning.
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Reception Parent Maths Workshop
Thanks so much to all parents who have attended our maths workshop to support our children’s learning both at school and at home. Our next session is this Tuesday 28th January at 2.15pm.
Adding 3 digit numbers using adjusting
Working together to adjust our calculations, when adding 3 digit numbers.
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Solving problems
We applied our right angle and directional understanding to some worded problems.
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Shapes, shapes and more shapes
Year 3 had a practical maths lesson this week which involved them exploring and making 3D shapes. We discussed the properties of each shape and learned some new vocabulary such as, vertices, edges, curved surfaces and flat faces. The children spotted where these 3D shapes can be found in real life. A Pringles tin was a popular cylinder shape in our class 🤣
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Doctors and Nurses Numbers!
We ordered numbers 1-10 and found the correct numicon to match.
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Ice shapes
We used ice trays to make 3D ice shapes. We then added them to our winter tuft tray to have some messy fun!
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3-D Shape

This week in maths we are learning all about 3-D shapes. We have been learning some 3-D shape names and trying to find real life 3-D shapes in class and outdoors. We have also been building towers using 3-D shapes and seeing how many shapes we can use to make the tallest tower. We have also been problem solving about which shapes will be the best at the top of the tower!
Recognising and counting numbers 1 to 5
We used our counting skills to make the correct amount of snowman buttons.
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Does our arm span increase as we grow older?
We took measurements of children from reception all the way to our eldest staff member! We then created a scatter graph of our results.
2-D Shape
This week in maths we are learning all about flat shapes or 2-D shapes and creating pictures using a selection of shapes.
Making a shape picture
After our shape hunt, we created Christmas pictures using different shapes. We talked about all the different shapes we used.
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Shapes in the environment
Today in maths we named and described the features of shapes. We went on a shape hunt and found different shapes in our playground
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Pattern seeking – science
In science today we put our ideas to the test. we either chose to either investigate if children with the longest femur could jump the highest or if the tallest children could jump the highest. We completed the post it challenge and made sure our investigation was fair.
Sequencing
This week in Mathematics, the children in class RJP have been focusing on sequencing. We explored the vocabulary, how ‘sequencing’ means to repeat a pattern. The children used paint to create an ‘ABBA’ pattern firstly, following the pattern, ‘red, green, red, green’. We then had lots of fun demonstrating the ‘ababab’ pattern using Christmas pictures, and designing a colourful paper-chain. To extend the learning, we explored different patterns, expanding on the number of picture cards, colours, and using shapes which have been learned previously. This helps the children problem solve sequencing in a fun way.
Why not keep up this learning at home, by asking the children to make repeated patterns using different objects.

Extra work at home!

Some incredible examples of extra work done at home. I have loved seeing how passionate we are about negative numbers, Olaudah Equiano and Roman numeral – keep it up, we love proudly displaying your work!
Weighing in Reception
This week in maths we are finding out which items are heavy, light and the lightest and the heaviest.
Children in Need – maths
100Year 4 spent this morning exploring Children in Need themed problems and discussing possible answers.
Comparison in Maths
This week we are comparing amounts of objects up to 10 to see which groups have more, fewer or the same.
Fact Families in Maths
We have enjoyed working on fact families this week. We persevered and now we are doing so well. I am so proud of you all.
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Comparison
We are looking at groups of objects this week and which groups have more than and
Lifesavers Bank
It is great to see so many children saving regularly on our lifesavers bank. Our bank tellers (helped by Miss Caraher and Miss Wilson) are doing a fabulous job.
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Comparing 2 digit numbers
Today we compared 2 digit numbers using our tens and ones knowledge
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Placing numbers on a number line
We worked hard to place numbers on a number line. Why don’t you have a go at home on this game too.
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/37/placing-numbers-on-a-number-line
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Partitioning 2 digit numbers in Year 2
We worked hard to partition 2 digit numbers today.
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Super addition work!
We have a super star in Year 3 who is working hard to add within 10.
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Greater Than and Less Than
We compared multiples of ten today using the greater than, less than and equal to symbols today.
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Number lines to 100!
We worked hard to place tens numbers onto a number line. We used dienes to make our number line and recognised the value of each number. We challenged our partner to place the numbers in the correct place. Good job Year 2.
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Number lines to 100
Today we built our own number lines. We used dienes to show the relationship between the tens and ones.

Year 2 Maths – making groups of ten
What a great start to maths this week. We have made groups of ten and worked on our counting in tens.
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Year 3 Maths
Today year 3 have started their place value topic by creating numbers with counters.
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Blooket fun in Year 2
In Year 2 we have discovered Blooket and we can’t get enough! We’ve used it to test our times table knowledge this week (as well as lots more too.)
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5EHD Geography statistics work
This week year 5 have compared Liverpool to the city of Manaus in Brazil and plotted data and different style graphs.
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Shape
We know the names and properties of so many 2D and 3D shapes now! Great work Year 2!

University Trip
We had a fantastic day at the University of Liverpool on Friday. We took part in workshops related to Maths and Science…. including sitting in mini Planetarium!
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The very Hungry Caterpillar ?
We are munching our way threw one apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries and five oranges ? 
Odd and Even Numbers
In maths this week we are looking at which numbers up to 10 are odd and which are even.
Money
We had lots of fun for our first lesson on Money today. We recognised the value of the coins and then made lots of different amounts. The children would love to help with the money when they are next shopping with their families ☺️
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It’s been a busy day using our fine motor skills to thread webs for the spiders and using our subitising skills to count spiders! ?️?️
Shape division
Year 3 used their factor and shape knowledge to find equal groups of shapes with 24 lollipop sticks. 3 octagons, 8 triangles, 4 hexagons and 6 squares could be made!
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Sorting in Reception Maths
This week we are developing our composition skills by sorting items by size, colour and shape. If you would like to have a go at this at home we would love to see this. Can you sort out some items by colour or size?
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Exploring division
We looked at division using concrete and pictorial representations to help our understanding of the concept. We were more confident by the end of our work!
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Composition of Numbers
In maths this week we are learning about how some numbers can be made up of two equal parts. We are looking at arrangements of numbers to spot and make equal and unequal parts.
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Favourite Character Pictogram
We have created a pictogram of our favourite character from Supertato. We counted to see how many children liked Evil Pea and how many more liked Supertato.
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Asda
This morning we have had lots of fun playing in our Asda supermarket. We have been writing shopping lists and paying for our food with money.
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We rounded off our ‘My Bnk’ sessions with talking about money habits and the importance of saving! We even made our very own money bank.
Maths parental workshop
Thank you to our parents who came to our Reception maths parental workshop this week! We look at how to support your children with their shape knowledge at home. 
Repeated Addition in 2GH
We have started our multiplication journey. We have been busy learning about repeated addition this week.
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Comparison in Maths
This week we are comparing numbers and groups of objects saying which group has more than, fewer than or the same amount of objects. We have been building walls for Humpty Dumpty and saying which wall has more, fewer or the same amount of bricks.
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We have been busy learning about Diwali the festival of light. We have moulded dough into Diya lamps. Made marks to create Rangoli patterns and wrote our names in our cards we have decorated.
Calculating the mean average and presenting data in a bar chart
#attendanceweek Calculating the mean average and presenting data in a bar chart. Points to improve: scale adjustment. #smithdownmaths
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Using the attendance percentages of the week?
4KM celebrated attendance week by creating their own bar graphs using the attendance percentages of the week? #smithdownmath
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4KM were using dienes and counters…
4KM were using dienes and counters to work out many different ways in which hundreds can make 1000 #smithdownmaths ???
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A lot of the fun came from being able to write all over our tables!
Year 3 had lots of fun today in maths adding and subtracting ten from a three digit number. A lot of the fun came from being able to write all over our tables! #smithdownmath
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This week we have been busy using flexible partitioning
This week we have been busy using flexible partitioning #smithdownmaths
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Year 2 – ordering numbers
Year 2 were hard at work on Friday – ordering numbers #smithdownmaths
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We used a range of different scales on our empty number lines
We used a range of different scales on our empty number lines. We had to place the numbers where we thought they would go. #smithdownmaths
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Estimating the position of numbers on a number line
On Friday Year 2 were hard at work estimating the position of numbers on a number line #smithdownmaths
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Partitioning 2 digit numbers in maths today…
Working hard partitioning 2 digit numbers in maths today #smithdownmaths
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Subtracting in multiples of tens today
Subtracting multiples of ten in maths #smithdownmaths
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Adding in multiples of tens today
So proud of these superstars adding in multiples of tens today #smithdownmaths
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In maths this morning we…
In maths this morning we started to estimate the position of multiples of ten on a number line. #smithdownmaths
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Today in maths we put objects into groups of ten and then counted them.
Today in maths we put objects into groups of ten and then counted them. We recognised that ten ones made a ten too. #smithdownmaths
We made arrangements of 4 and ordered numbers to 4
In last week’s maths we made arrangements of 4 and ordered numbers to 4 #smithdowneyfs #smithdownmaths
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Matching arrangements of objects and pictures to the correct number
Matching arrangements of objects and pictures to the correct number #smithdowneyfs #smithdownmaths
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Nursery In maths today
In maths we are making arrangements of 1, 2 and 3 #smithdowneyfs #smithdownmaths
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It’s been a busy afternoon looking at big and small…
It’s been a busy afternoon looking at big and small. We worked hard sorting acorns. #smithdowneyfs #smithdownmaths @MasterTheCurric
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This week we have had lots of fun using timers to freeze, see how many jumps, claps and hops we can do before the time ran out!

































































































































This week we have been learning about how numbers can be made


























































































