Teaching Mathematics

Mathematics at South Padbury Primary School is built on strong foundations, clear teaching and lots of practice. Our goal is to develop confident, capable mathematicians who are fluent with basic skills and able to think, reason and solve problems.

Our Goal

We want students to leave primary school not only with strong maths skills, but with the belief that they can do maths. Confidence, consistency and strong foundations set students up for long-term success

What We Prioritise in Maths

We focus on the key ingredients that lead to long-term success in mathematics:

1. Strong Number Foundations
Students develop deep understanding of number from the early years. This includes place value, counting, number patterns and understanding how numbers work together.

2. Fluency with Basic Facts
Automatic recall of number facts (e.g. addition, subtraction and times tables) is essential. When facts are automatic, students free up their thinking to focus on problem solving and reasoning.

3. Explicit Instruction
Teachers use clear, structured lessons where new concepts are modelled step-by-step. Students then practise with support before working independently. This approach builds confidence and ensures success for all learners.

4. Problem Solving and Reasoning
Beyond getting the right answer, students learn to explain their thinking, justify solutions and apply maths to real-life situations.

Building Maths Skills Across the Years

Maths learning is carefully sequenced, so skills build year by year:

Early Years (K–PP): Counting, number recognition, simple addition and subtraction, and understanding quantity.
Years 1–2: Place value, mental strategies, number facts, and early problem solving.
Years 3–4: Multiplication and division facts, written strategies, fractions, and applying maths in different contexts.
Years 5–6: Multi-step problem solving, decimals, fractions, percentages and mathematical reasoning.

Each stage builds on the previous one, ensuring students develop both understanding and confidence.

Sample Daily Review Slides

Why Fluency Matters

Just like reading, maths requires fluency. When students can quickly recall facts and use efficient strategies, they:

Work more accurately
Solve problems more confidently
Experience less frustration
Enjoy maths more

This is why you will see regular review and practice built into lessons and Daily Reviews.

Our Maths Program – Oxford Maths

At South Padbury, we use Oxford Maths as our core mathematics program. It provides a clear, structured and reliable foundation for teaching and learning maths across the whole school.

A Valid, Viable Curriculum

Oxford Maths is designed to be both valid (teaching the right content) and viable (manageable within school time). It ensures students spend time on the most important mathematical concepts that build strong long-term understanding.

Aligned with the WA Curriculum

The program is fully aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum, ensuring students are taught the required content at the appropriate year level.It emphasises strong number foundations and carefully sequenced skill development.

Clear Structure for Learning

Lessons follow a logical progression:

Explicit teaching of new concepts
Guided practice with teacher support
Independent practice to build confidence and fluency
This structure supports consistency across classrooms and helps students experience success.