At Patterson lakes Primary School, we believe that a strong grounding in Numeracy allows students to take control of their future. Using an explicit teaching method, balanced with rich problem solving and investigative tasks, students are supported to grow into confident mathematicians through their years of schooling.

We support students in developing the language of maths by using the Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract (CPA) model for representation.

We begin by using ‘Concrete’ materials to support early number sense, counting and operations. This often involves showing students how to use physical objects, such as MAB blocks, paddlepop sticks, Unifix and Numicon, to show the tens and ones of our counting system. Using these with explicit teaching methods gives all students a clear understanding of how the place value system works.

Teachers then work with students to move to using ‘Pictorial’ representations of larger numbers and common fractions, such as circles for wholes and dividing it up into equal halves or quarters. This work also includes shapes, measurement, statistics and probabilities to broaden their understanding of how mathematics exists in all aspects of our world.

The final part of the CPA model – ‘Abstract’ – is using the digits and words of Numeracy. Students develop mastery by performing the four operations in different contexts, such as using number lines and multi-step worded problems, to consolidate their early years learning to become confident mathematicians.