Maths

Here at Livingstone we recognise that being a confident mathematician is vital to childrens’ future as it equips children with an essential set of tools to succeed in the world. These include logical thinking, problem solving and the ability to think in abstract ways.

We believe children learn better through fun, exciting and challenging activities. We are committed to enabling all children to achieve mastery in the key concepts of mathematics appropriate for their age group. At the centre of our approach to the teaching of maths is the belief that all pupils have the potential to succeed.We believe that every child can develop confidence, curiosity, and a genuine enjoyment of mathematics. Our curriculum is designed to help pupils build strong foundations, make meaningful connections, and develop the problem‑solving skills they need for life.

To support this, we follow the White Rose Maths scheme across all year groups. This carefully structured approach provides a clear, progressive journey through mathematical concepts, ensuring that children revisit and deepen their understanding over time. Lessons are built around small, manageable steps, allowing every learner to secure key knowledge before moving on.

Using White Rose brings several important benefits to our pupils:

• Consistency and progression: Children experience a coherent sequence of learning from Early Years to Year 6, helping them build confidence and fluency.
• Deep understanding: Concepts are explored using concrete resources, pictorial representations, and abstract methods, supporting a mastery approach where pupils truly understand why maths works.
• Problem‑solving and reasoning: Regular opportunities to think mathematically, explain ideas, and tackle challenges help pupils become resilient, flexible thinkers.
• Inclusivity: The small‑steps structure ensures that all children can access learning, while also providing rich extension opportunities for those ready to explore further.
• Engaging and enjoyable lessons: The scheme encourages creativity, discussion, and exploration, helping children see maths as something meaningful and enjoyable.

Our aim is to nurture confident mathematicians who are ready to apply their skills in the classroom and beyond. By combining high‑quality teaching with the strength of the White Rose Maths scheme, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

We believe that our children learn to have an understanding of mathematical principles on which they can build. Learning opportunities throughout the school are planned to ensure that children form concepts, develop skills, learn facts and acquire strategies that enable them to become successful mathematicians. Children are encouraged to talk about their mathematics and compare their ideas and methods with others.

Children who grasp concepts rapidly are challenged through rich and sophisticated problems which deepen their thinking before they are introduced to new content. Children who need more support will spend longer using a range of concrete and visual materials to ensure their understanding is secure. Similarly, with calculation strategies, children are encouraged not to simply rote learn procedures but demonstrate their understanding of these procedures through the use of concrete materials and pictorial representations to ensure fluency and depth of understanding. Where appropriate, White Rose maths is supplemented with other resources to support or extend children's learning.  

Times Tables

An important element of the maths curriculum is the development of rapid recall of multiplication facts and the corresponding division facts for all pupils. In order to help secure these facts the children use the resource Times Table Rock Stars. In both paper form and online, Times Table Rock Stars is a carefully sequenced programme of daily times tables practice. The children use this resource as a fun and engaging method of learning their times tables. From Year 3, each child receives a password and can use this at home and at school to learn the facts.

What can I do to help my child?

Children make progress best as mathematicians when they regularly repeat skills and practise them until they become embedded. This can be quite a long process, and so the use of the context of an exciting game or interesting activity can be highly motivating. In our experience, our children learn best when they are having fun and that's what games are for!

https://www.primarygames.com/math.php. You'll find lots of maths content here. All presented as engaging games and challenges.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/ Lots of fun games to play with children of all ages.

https://mathszone.co.uk/ Another collection of games and activities across the full range of our curriculum content. Mostly appropriate for our KS2 pupils.