Personal Development within Maths

Harbour Primary and Nursery School
How does Mathematics at Harbour develop children’s personal development?

Spiritual

At Harbour, we want children to be excited about Maths. We want them to feel delight when they have shown resilience and are able to solve problems they once found difficult or even impossible to solve.

We encourage children to see the awe and wonder that can be found within mathematics – from the symmetry of a snowflake to the number of seeds in a sunflower head. There is a sense of wonder in the exactness of mathematics and children are able to gain a sense of personal achievement in solving problems.

Children are often inspired by the cross-curricular links with other subjects (Art, Humanities, Design and Technology and Science amongst others). We strive to allow the children to pride themselves in understanding and being able to use their mathematical skills in all areas of their learning.

Mathematics helps children to make informed decisions in life, based on the skills and confidence gained from choosing the most appropriate method in solving problems. These skills are transferrable to real-life situations, and therefore help the children become reflective, responsible and insightful individuals. This links with the fundamental British value of Individual Liberty. Mathematics further promotes the cause-effect relationship within our actions.

Moral

At Harbour, we want children to have strong beliefs in what is morally right. We provide reasoning opportunities where the children are encouraged to prove their answer and give reasons for their thoughts. This allows them to evidence their views not just in Maths, but in the wider world.

As a result, we can support our children to understand how logical reasoning can be used to consider the consequences of particular decisions and choices and help them learn the value of mathematical truth.

Social

Children are regularly asked to work in pairs or small groups where they are able to develop both their problem solving and teamwork skills, including sharing resources and taking turns. They are given many opportunities to discuss their ideas and are encouraged to develop their mathematical reasoning through communication with others. Through the use of peer- assessment, children are able to improve their use of language and better understand how to give constructive criticism. Children are reminded and praised for showing mutual respect and tolerance for differences of opinions and methods used for solving problems.

We place great emphasis on using contextualised examples within our Maths teaching, helping children see that Maths is all around and how Maths fits into their everyday lives. For example, in year 5, children explore the noise level in classroom experiment linked to line graphs. Units of measurement is another area of Maths where children deepen their understanding by applying their knowledge into real life contexts that they will encounter throughout their life, such as PE, sports day and baking. Throughout our curriculum, our children are given the opportunity to use money through our enterprise project and roleplay experiences. Understanding the value of money and being able to manage a budget effectively are key life skills that we work hard to teach our children. Children are given the opportunity to practise and apply this skill in an enterprise project which is funded by the PTA.

Cultural

Children are able to explore the mathematics found and used in other cultures. They are introduced to symmetrical patterns, number systems and mathematical methods such as patterns found in religious art and Roman numerals.

We introduce our children to the lives and contribution of significant mathematicians such as Katherine Johnson, Fibonacci and Alan Turing. The aim of SMSC in Maths is to encourage our children to aspire beyond the horizon of Newhaven. We aspire to encourage children beyond their family job or trade, into a realm of possibilities maybe not seen in generations within their family. Through cooperative group work and purposeful discussion, children will learn to become a part of a community larger than their own horizons.