INSET: Towards Exceptional Primary Maths Teaching

🌟 Towards Exceptional Primary Maths Teaching – Building Fluency, Reasoning and Progress

Mathematics is a core subject in the primary curriculum and a key driver of cognitive development, problem-solving ability, and academic success. High-quality primary maths teaching not only improves attainment but also builds resilience, logical thinking, and confidence in learners. According to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), effective maths instruction in primary schools is strongly linked to long-term academic outcomes and social mobility. The 2025 Ofsted framework reinforces this by evaluating maths provision through multiple lenses: Curriculum and Teaching, Inclusion, Achievement, and Personal Development.

This CPD course supports primary teachers and maths leads in delivering exceptional maths provision that is coherent, inclusive, and inspection-ready. Through practical strategies, curriculum planning, and pedagogical insight, participants will be equipped to raise standards, inspire learners, and demonstrate impact across the school.

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🧭 INSET Outline

🎯 Curriculum and Primary Maths Teaching

• Design a maths curriculum that is coherently sequenced, ambitious, and accessible to all learners.
• Embed the principles of fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving across all year groups.
• Use concrete–pictorial–abstract (CPA) approaches to deepen conceptual understanding.

📈 Achievement and Progress

• Use formative assessment, pupil voice, and work scrutiny to evidence progress in mathematical thinking and skills.
• Support disadvantaged learners and those with SEND through adaptive teaching and targeted interventions.
• Develop strategies to ensure pupils retain and apply mathematical knowledge over time.

🧠 Mathematical Thinking and Language

• Build pupils’ confidence in using mathematical vocabulary and explaining their reasoning.
• Promote mathematical talk, collaboration, and metacognition in the classroom.
• Use real-life contexts to make maths meaningful and engaging.

🛠️ Pedagogy and Primary Maths Teaching Practice

• Apply research-informed strategies such as variation theory, retrieval practice, and scaffolding.
• Use manipulatives and visual representations effectively to support all learners.
• Plan lessons that balance exploration with structure, ensuring all pupils can succeed.

🔍 Inspection Readiness

• Understand how Ofsted evaluates primary maths under the new framework.
• Prepare evidence of curriculum intent, implementation, and impact.
• Align maths provision with whole-school priorities for inclusion, safeguarding, and personal development.

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👥 Who is this INSET for?

• Primary Maths Subject Leaders
• KS1 and KS2 Teachers
• Curriculum Coordinators
• Senior Leaders overseeing teaching and learning

enquiries@jmcinset.com

🗣️ Testimonial

“This CPD helped us rethink our approach to primary maths. The focus on progression, inclusion, and inspection readiness gave us the confidence to improve our curriculum and teaching practice.”
— Maths Lead, Primary Federation