Key Stage 1 – Mathematics
The principal focus of Mathematics teaching in the national curriculum for Key Stage 1 – Years 1 and 2 is to ensure that children develop confidence and mental fluency with whole numbers, counting and place value. This should involve working with numerals, words and the four operations, including with practical resources (for example, concrete objects and measuring tools). At this stage, children should develop their ability to recognise, describe, draw, compare and sort different shapes and use the related vocabulary. Teaching involves using a range of measures to describe and compare different quantities such as length, mass, capacity/volume, time and money
By the end of Year 2, children should know the number bonds to 20 and be precise in using and understanding place value. An emphasis on practice at this early stage will aid fluency. Children should read and spell mathematical vocabulary, at a level consistent with their increasing word reading and spelling knowledge at Key Stage 1.
The Wes Mathematics Course is based on the Abacus Mathematics course published by Pearson Education, which has been designed to meet all the requirements of the new national curriculum and to provide a sound basis for children’s learning.
This course is used all the way through Key Stages 1 and 2.
The course has been devised to make Mathematics relevant, meaningful and, above all, enjoyable and is intended to build up a positive attitude towards the subject. Children should come to understand the mathematical nature of the world by being surrounded by examples of what is mathematical and by being encouraged to experiment without the fear of being wrong.
The course offers attractive resources which include investigative and problem solving activities. Children will be encouraged at all times to develop confidence with the handling of numbers. They will be encouraged to develop strategies for working out calculations in their heads and they will be asked to practise with some basic facts to ensure that instant recall will enable them to solve more challenging problems. They will be stimulated to want to learn, to want to be challenged and to find out for themselves. They will want to have the satisfaction of finding out the best solutions and answers.