Our Maths Programmes
Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where bold thinking meets thoughtful execution. Let’s create something meaningful together.
Building Mathematical Mastery: Why We Use White Rose’s Power Maths (aligned with the British National Curriculum)
At Books and Brains, we believe that every child has the potential to become a confident mathematician. To turn this belief into reality, we use the Power Maths programme, a world-class curriculum developed in partnership with White Rose Maths. It is designed specifically to move beyond rote memorization and foster a deep, sustainable understanding of mathematical concepts. By using evidence-based methods, we help children replace "math anxiety" with "math mastery." We invite you to join us in fostering the confidence and fluency your child needs for lifelong academic success.
The Mastery Approach: From Blocks to Brainpower
We understand that abstract numbers can often feel intimidating. That’s why our specialist teachers use the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) sequence to ensure no student is left behind:
Concrete: Children begin by using physical objects—like counters or base-ten blocks—to "feel" the math.
Pictorial: They then transition to visual representations, such as bar models, to "see" how numbers relate.
Abstract: Finally, with a solid foundation, they move confidently into traditional numbers and symbols.
Developing a Growth Mindset
Math is about more than just getting the right answer; it is about the journey to get there. Power Maths integrates "Growth Mindset" characters who help our students embrace challenges and view mistakes as essential steps in learning. In our supportive environment, your child learns to reason, logic, and problem-solve—skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
Our Maths Programmes
Explorers - Honeypot Ants
(3+ years old)
An introduction to Maths through playful exploration and hands-on
activities.
Focus:
developing early mathematical language
recognizing patterns, sorting,
counting small groups of objects, and
understanding basic concepts like more, less, and the same.
Children build confidence and curiosity about numbers and shapes.
Adventurers - Ladybugs
(4+ years old)
Build on their early experiences by deepening their understanding.
numbers up to 10 and beyond,
explore addition and subtraction in practical contexts, and
investigate shapes, space, and measures.
Ensuring children develop a secure foundation for future learning.
Pioneers - Butterflies
(5+ years old)
Move into more structured maths, focusing on:
number and place value up to 100,
simple addition and subtraction, and an introduction to multiplication and division.
explore 2D and 3D shapes, measurement (length, height, weight, volume, and time)
develop reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Trailblazers - Crickets
(6+ years old)
Children consolidate and extend their understanding of:
place value up to 100,
more complex addition and subtraction, multiplication and division facts. Money, time, fractions, and measures.
further develop their ability to reason and solve problems.
We use a mastery approach, building on previous learning and preparing children for Key Stage 2.
Not sure which programme to enroll your child in?
We recommend new students and parents to book an assessment with us to ensure your child’s needs are taken care of.
Our Approach
Regardless of whether your child is suspected to have dyslexia, or is struggling due to incorrect or inadequate prior instruction, “what is generally agreed is that all children experiencing literacy difficulties (regardless of meeting criteria for dyslexia) should receive reading intervention” (Snowling and Hulme, 2024).
We teach decoding and spelling skills together using systematic phonics. Oral language use and comprehension is developed from the start. We use morphological approaches to aid both reading and spelling. Children are taught that reading for learning and enjoyment is our ultimate aim and we therefore foster reading comprehension within and in addition to our programmes. (Kelly and Phillips, 2025)
Our programmes are evidence-based, and our team is trained in them. We continue to attend CPD courses to increase our knowledge and apply these in lessons so our students benefit.
Programmes we mainly use include: Jolly Phonics, Letters and Sounds, UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institue), Bug Club Phonics, Twinkl (as supplementary), Conquering Literacy (specifically for Dyslexia), Floppy’s Phonics, Phonics International, Sounds-Write, Read Write Inc, Get Reading Right and we can also work with other validated synthetic phonics programmes. (Please see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/choosing-a-phonics-teaching-programme/contact-details-for-the-validated-systematic-synthetic-phonics-ssp-programmes for a list).
