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    • Maths

    Mathematics at Cribden House is practical, meaningful and designed to help children make sense of the world around them. The curriculum across all pathways aims to build confidence, enjoyment and problem-solving skills through carefully structured learning experiences. Children are taught using the White Rose Maths scheme, ensuring small steps of progression, clear sequencing and opportunities to apply mathematical understanding in everyday contexts. As with all subject areas, development is based on a child's stage of learning rather than age, allowing every pupil to receive the right level of support and challenge.

    Being Pathway

    On the Being Pathway, maths is explored through early problem-solving, hands-on learning and sensory experiences. Children meet mathematical ideas through play, exploration and meaningful real-life interactions. Concepts such as shape, number, measure and patterns are introduced through stories, songs, practical activities, sorting, building, and early counting skills. Staff encourage curiosity and investigation, helping children notice and talk about size, quantity and comparisons in their environment.

    Outdoor learning, forest school, cooking, role play and small-world play all offer opportunities to develop early mathematical understanding. Instead of formal recording, progress is captured through photographs, observations and practical evidence. Tapestry is used to record learning outcomes, and progress is tracked using the Being Assessment Tool alongside individuals’ Provision Plans and EHCP targets.

    Doing Pathway

    The Doing Pathway provides a semi-formal maths curriculum with a strong emphasis on practical, functional and real-life application. Children learn through hands-on experiences using concrete materials and structured routines that support confidence and independence. Activities range from practical counting and number work, to measuring in cooking, handling money during shopping experiences, telling the time, recognising shapes and working with simple data.

    The White Rose Maths scheme is adapted to suit individual needs, allowing learning to take place in small, manageable steps with frequent repetition and modelling. Maths games, role play, problem-solving activities and outdoor learning help children see how maths appears in everyday life, while technology such as tablets and interactive software supports engagement and recording.

    Assessment on this pathway uses the Doing Pathway Curriculum Assessment Tool and PIVATS, ensuring that progress is measurable even in small steps. Evidence may be collected as photographs or videos rather than written work, as learning is often practical, interactive and personalised.

    Thinking Pathway

    Children on the Thinking Pathway access maths at a more formal level and follow White Rose units aligned to the National Curriculum. They develop understanding in number, calculation, geometry, measure, statistics and problem-solving, with increasing focus on reasoning and mathematical fluency.

    Pupils are encouraged to explain their thinking, try different strategies and apply skills to real-life contexts. Mental arithmetic, written calculations and the use of mathematical vocabulary are developed systematically. Where appropriate, children record work in books and make use of technology, manipulatives and visual supports to consolidate understanding.

    Assessment is ongoing through teacher observation, written outcomes and termly PIVATS data. Internal and external moderation ensures accuracy and consistency across the school.

    Across all pathways, Maths at Cribden House:

    • prioritises understanding over rote learning

    • supports confidence and independence

    • uses real-life experiences children can relate to

    • incorporates outdoor learning and practical problem-solving

    • ensures progress is carefully tracked and celebrated

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