Mathematics
At The Grove Infant School and Nursery we believe that every child has the capacity to succeed in maths. We follow a mastery approach which means recognising the power to think rather than just do and to tackle concepts in very small cumulative steps of learning. By creating a solid foundation of deep understanding our children’s skills and confidence will be secure. There is also a key emphasis on spoken language and you will often hear sentence stems with key vocabulary being used to underpin learning in lessons.
At our school, we use HFL Education’s ESSENTIALMATHS curriculum to deliver high-quality, inspiring mathematics teaching across Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. This research-backed framework is fully aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1 National Curriculum.
By breaking down complex ideas into highly structured, small learning steps, we ensure that every child builds a deep, secure, and joyful foundation in maths.
Our Teaching Philosophy in Key Stage 1
Our early maths curriculum focuses heavily on numbers, patterns, and practical reasoning. We believe that a strong start in maths builds lifelong confidence.
Our teaching focuses on:
· Deep Conceptual Understanding: Children don't just learn how to count or calculate; they learn why numbers behave the way they do.
· Problem Solving & Reasoning: We encourage even our youngest learners to think like mathematicians by exploring open-ended puzzles and real-world maths problems.
· Fluency & Recall: We place a strong emphasis on subitising (recognising quantities without counting) and rapid recall of early number bonds (e.g., pairs that make 5, 10, or 20) to build a solid foundation.
The CPA Approach: Hands-On Learning
To make abstract mathematical concepts understandable for young minds, our classrooms rely heavily on the Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract (CPA) model:
· Concrete (Hands-on): Children explore maths using physical objects and manipulatives, such as numicon, counters, bead strings, and real objects.
· Pictorial (Visual): Children translate their hands-on work into visual sketches, using part-whole models, tens frames, and simple number lines to picture the maths.
· Abstract (Symbols): Once children fully grasp the concept visually, they move confidently to traditional notation using numbers and symbols (e.g., 5 + 3 = 8).
'Maths Talk' and Early Vocabulary
Developing a rich mathematical vocabulary starts in the early years. We teach children the precise vocabulary they need to explain their thinking, helping them move past simply giving an answer to explaining how they found it.
· Sentence Stems: We use simple, structured phrases to scaffold "maths talk" (e.g., "I know this because..." or "First there were... then... now there are...").
· Reasoning Questions: Children are regularly challenged during play and structured lessons with the question: "How do you know?"
· Stem Sentences: Key mathematical truths are repeated as a class to embed fundamental concepts (e.g., "An even number can be shared equally into two groups.")
EYFS & Key Stage 1 Curriculum Domains
Our early curriculum is designed to give pupils a mastery of fundamental skills before they transition to Key Stage 2:
· Number & Place Value: Counting reliably, understanding the composition of numbers to 10 and 20, and mastering place value (tens and ones).
· Early Calculations: Developing efficient mental and practical strategies for addition and subtraction.
· Fractions (Key Stage 1): Introducing halves and quarters using shapes, objects, and quantities.
· Geometry: Recognising and naming common 2D and 3D shapes, and exploring position, direction, and movement.
· Measurement: Practical exploration of length, mass, capacity, time, and money.
Seamless Transition to Junior School
We work in close partnership with our linked Junior school, which also uses the ESSENTIALMATHS framework throughout Key Stage 2. This shared approach ensures complete curriculum continuity.
Because both schools use the exact same mathematical language, models, and teaching sequences, our Year 2 pupils experience a familiar, confident, and seamless transition when they move up to Year 3.