Preparing for September (Primary)
Posted 27th May 2021
Why are the White Rose Maths Primary Schemes of Learning ideal for post-pandemic teaching in September?
After an extremely challenging couple of years, schools are now thinking ahead to how to best provide for their children in what will hopefully be the post-pandemic world in September 2021. This blog looks at why continuing with, or adopting, the White Rose primary Schemes of Learning will help all children to achieve and succeed in maths in line with our motto #MathsEveryoneCan.
Careful sequencing, starting at the beginning
Each year our schemes start with blocks on Place Value, followed by the essential calculation skills children need to succeed in maths. This firm grounding in number gives children confidence and helps them to access the rest of the maths curriculum.
A mastery approach
Based on extensive research and years of classroom practice, our schemes are written by practising teachers for teachers. They use a concrete-pictorial-abstract approach to support children to understand the maths they are learning and to be able to use it elsewhere. The “small step” approach means nothing is left to chance – all curriculum objectives are broken down into accessible parts that build on each other so the learning journey is complete. Example questions are provided together with notes and guidance for teaching each step; teachers and children are both supported.
Curriculum coverage
Our schemes of learning cover at least the expected content for each year group in the National Curriculum. We also support the development of reasoning and problem solving as well as fluency (with example questions again provided for each small step) so that all the aims of the National Curriculum are met. We also highlight where our schemes link to the DFE’s “Ready to progress“ criteria.
Recap steps, Home Learning videos and cumulative learning
The recap steps we introduced in 2020 will remain in place in 2021. As our schemes build children’s learning year-on-year you can use these steps from the previous year’s scheme to plug any gaps in knowledge the children may have as a result of lost learning. If needed you can go back two or even three years to provide support for those children who need it, safe in the knowledge that the same approach is used consistently and every small step in their learning journey is catered for. The Home Learning materials produced over the last year will be still be available for you to use in class, with small groups or individuals to help.
Our schemes are adaptable
In line with our mastery approach to the teaching and learning of mathematics, our schemes are split into blocks that allow plenty of time for thorough study of every topic. Teachers of course know their children and the experiences they have had best. We encourage teachers to use this knowledge to make the schemes work for them, adding extra time where necessary for topics that need most attention and adapting other learning accordingly.
Our schemes continue to evolve
We always continue to learn and to improve. We have started a thorough review of our schemes in the light of the events of the last two years and will be releasing an updated version from September 2023. We do not anticipate any significant stages in structure, and the content will of course remain that of the National Curriculum. We will, however, act on the feedback from teachers to modify and adapt some of our small steps to continue to improve children’s learning.
White Rose Maths provide wraparound support
Everything you need to support your children can be found all in one place:
- Small steps guidance with example questions
- Editable reasoning and problem-solving questions
- End-of-block and end-of-term assessments
- Videos to support every small step
All of these are provided completely free of charge. In addition we offer low-cost Premium Resources that include
- A worksheet, with answers, for every small step
- Flashback Four to support interleaving and retention
- Teaching slides from our Home earning Videos for every small step
- True or False? questions and answers to further develop reasoning and support retention
We also offer training – online “do it yourself” training and webinars are available and soon face-to-face training with return too. Everything you need can be found on our website without the need to look for alternative provision. “Think maths, think White Rose Maths!”
What if schools close have to close again?
We of course hope this will not be the case, but if schools do have to close again then all the materials we have produced for the previous school closures will continue to be available. We would also look again at how we can develop our Home Learning offer and continue to support teachers and children however we can.
Free Webinar
For more information on the implementation of the White Rose Maths schemes in 2021/2, as well as a look forward to what new material we will be releasing over the course of next year, book your spot on our free Preparing for September webinar.
