Big Maths

Big Maths is an approach to teaching number that aims to ensure that children are confident with number as they progress through school. It provides a rigorous and progressive structure and enables children to fully embed key skills and mathematical facts through fun and engaging lessons. It is based on 4 key elements which make up each maths lesson: CLIC.

Daily Maths Lesson

Each daily maths lesson begins with a CLIC session:

Counting: Children learn to count forwards and backwards (progressing from whole numbers to ten through to counting in decimals and fractions) and to ‘count on’ from any number.

Learn Its: Recalling basic number facts including all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division)

It’s Nothing New: Children apply what they have learned to acquire new skills in a simple manner.

E.g. if they know 4 + 3 = 7, then ‘its nothing new’ to learn that 4p + 3p = 7p.

Calculation: Children use and apply facts and knowledge from CLIC to all four operation calculation methods (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).

Big Maths Assessment

As well as tracking children’s knowledge and understanding using their position on the Progress Drives, once a week the children sit two quick and easy Big Maths tests.  These are used as assessment tools that allow teachers to see exactly what the children know and what they don’t know.  They also provide children with a fun and motivational way to track their own progress and set their own targets for numeracy.  Both tests begin with fun, catchy jingles that enthuse and engage the children.

The CLIC test: The CLIC test is a set of 10 questions involving number. 

E.g. The four operations, doubling/halving, multiplying by 10/100, using decimals.  Each child works on a CLIC test of a level appropriate to them and when they have achieved full marks for three consecutive weeks will move on to a higher level test, regardless of age or year group.

The Big Maths Beat That test (BMBT): The BMBT test is based on the children’s weekly Learn Its.  It is a timed test where the children are constantly challenged to increase their own score (literally…”Beat That!”, where ‘that’ is their best ever score).

Big Maths Characters

Many of the It’s Nothing New concepts are introduced and taught using fun and interactive characters.  This has proved to be a very powerful tool as the characters and the mathematical language that is associated with them is used consistently through the school and constantly referred to by both children and staff.

Each character helps children to learn and remember key principles that can be applied across a range of topics and difficulty.

E.g. Pim helps children make links between 3 + 4 = 7, 30 + 40 = 70, £30 + £40 = £70 and 0.03 + 0.04 = 0.07.