Maths Strategies

At Greave, children are introduced to the processes of calculation by building a sequence following a Concrete - Pictorial – Abstract approach. This means that throughout the school, children will use concrete equipment and pictures, such as place value counters and tens frames, to support their understanding of more abstract concepts before moving onto more formal methods of recording. This ensures that children's mental methods are strengthened and refined as well as supporting their confidence and understanding of increasingly complex formal methods. The calculation policy is also developed to enable your child to become more efficient and succinct in their calculations. Our aim is that by the end of Year 6, children are equipped with mental and written methods that they understand securely and can use correctly and efficiently.

Greave's calculation policy is organised in year groups and each type of calculation has been carefully structured to ensure the children's learning and understanding building towards the year's end point is carefully scaffolded. Children may need to revisit elements of calculation skills and understanding from the previous year group before they can fully understand a concept from their year group's calculation learning and the progression across the year groups has been structured to ensure consistency in concrete support and images across the year groups.

When faced with a calculation, we teach children  to decide which method is most appropriate and have strategies to check its accuracy. They will do this by asking themselves:

Can I do this in my head?

Can I do this in my head using drawing or jottings?

Do I need to use a pencil and paper procedure?

EYFS                                                                 

Calculation Policy EYFS

Year 1                                                                 

Calculation Policy Year 1

Year 2                                                                

Calculation policy Year 2

Addition in Year 2                                          

Year 2: Adding 2-digit numbers and a single digit when the answer does not cross the next multiple of 10

Year 2: Adding 10 to a 2-digit number

Year 2: Adding a single digit number to a 2-digit number crossing over the next mutliple of 10

Year 2: Adding multiples of 10

Year 2: Adding multiples of 10 to a 2-digit number

Multiplication in Year 2

Year 2: Multiplication

Year 3

Calculation Policy Year 3

Multiplication in Year 3

Year 3: Learning multiplication tables and anchor facts

Year 3: Multiplying 2-digit numbers by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 8

Division in Year 3                                           

Year 3: Learning division facts for the 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 times tables

Year 3: Dividing 2-digit numbers by 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10

          Year 4          

Calculation Policy Year 4

Multiplication in Year 4 

Year 4: Multiplying a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number

Year 4: Multiplying a 3-digit number by a 1-digit number

Division in Year 4                                                           

Year 4: learning division facts for the 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12 times tables

Year 4: Dividing any 2-digit number by a single digit

Year 5                                                     

Calculation Policy Year 5

Multiplication in Year 5

Year 5: Multiplying 3-digit and 4-digit numbers by a single digit

Year 5: Multiplying a 2-digit number by a 2-digit number

Year 5: Multiplying a 3 or 4-digit number by a 2-digit number

Division in Year 5     

Year 5: Dividing 3-digit numbers by a single digit

Year 5: Dividing 4-digit numbers by a single digit

 Year 6

Calculation Policy Year 6