Maths

Mathematics at Northam Primary School

At Northam Primary School (NPS), we aim to develop confident, capable and curious mathematicians. Our Mathematics program is aligned with the Western Australian Curriculum: Mathematics and supports students to build essential numeracy skills they need for school and everyday life.

Mathematics is taught daily using an explicit teaching approach, with clear learning goals so students understand what they are learning and how to be successful. Lessons are engaging, hands-on and differentiated to support all learners.

Kindergarten to Year 2

Top Ten Maths

In Kindergarten to Year 2, students learn Mathematics through the Top Ten Maths program. This program focuses on building strong early numeracy skills using concrete materials and hands-on activities.

Lessons follow a clear structure of “I do, We do, You do”, where teachers model new concepts, practise together with students, and then support students to apply their learning independently. Learning is adjusted to provide extra support or extension where needed, and assessments help teachers track progress and growth over time.

Years 1 to 6 — Mental Computation Strategies

To complement daily maths teaching across Years 1 to 6, we use Think Mentals 1 Student Book through Think Mentals 6 Student Book and other Think Mentals workbooks from Firefly Education.

Think Mentals helps students develop strong mental computation skills by explicitly teaching friendly strategies for solving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Each year level follows a structured weekly plan that includes:

• learning a new strategy
• daily practice and revision
• fluency questions covering a range of number concepts
• a short weekly assessment

These resources give students regular, scaffolded practice and build confidence in approaching calculations mentally, supporting success across all maths lessons.

Years 3 to 6

Western Australian Curriculum: Mathematics

From Years 3 to 6, students follow the Western Australian Curriculum (SCSA) Mathematics program. Learning focuses on developing understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning across Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability.

Students are encouraged to think critically, make connections to real-world situations and explain their thinking. Digital tools are used where appropriate to support learning and engagement.

Teachers also use Ochre Daily Reviews to revisit and practise previously taught content. These short review sessions help strengthen memory, improve retention and build confidence by giving students regular opportunities to consolidate their learning before moving on to new concepts.

Students are encouraged to make connections to real-world contexts and explain their mathematical thinking.

Assessment in Mathematics

At NPS, assessment is used to support learning, not just measure it. Teachers use a combination of classroom-based assessments and standardised tools to understand each child’s progress and plan next steps.

• Program-based assessments (such as Top Ten Maths and Think Mentals) help teachers track understanding and growth within daily lessons.
• PAT Maths provides a snapshot of students’ mathematical understanding over time. It helps teachers identify strengths, areas for growth and track progress from year to year. PAT Maths supports consistent and fair assessment across schools and year levels.
• Brightpath Mathematics is used to show where students are on clear learning progressions. This helps teachers identify what students know now and what they are ready to learn next.

Together, these assessments allow teachers to personalise learning, provide targeted support or extension, and ensure steady progress for every student.

Our Aim

Through our Mathematics program, we aim to help students:

• feel confident and capable in mathematics
• develop strong problem-solving and reasoning skills
• understand how mathematics connects to everyday life

At Northam Primary School, we value creating a supportive and engaging learning environment where all students can experience success in mathematics.