EM Securing Fluency Programme - 2026/27 updates
Updated: Aug 31
STRATEGY SPOTLIGHT LESSONS
The main update to the SFP in 2026/27 will be the introduction of ‘strategy spotlight’ lessons. These lessons isolate a single mathematical method and explore it in depth.
These will be located at the start of Unit 2 in Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5 and Stage 6.
The methods are:
Making the next logical unit… (eg 10, 100, 1)
Making the previous logical unit…
Partitioning both addends
Partitioning the minuend
Relationships for addition
Relationships for subtraction
Compensation (addition only – from Stage 4 up)
The initial Stage 3 strategy spotlight lessons are already online. You can see some by clicking these links.
Relationships method for subtraction
SUGGESTED CURRICULUM MAP FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
The Securing Fluency Programme website sets out the content for each year group in a series of units. Units either focus on maths facts or on calculation strategies.
In Key Stage 1, it is generally effective to work through the units in the order in which they are presented. However, there can be some mixing of units.
For example, at Stage 1 there are three units focusing on additive facts within 10. Each unit follows the same structure:
Additive facts for 5;
Additive facts for 6;
etc
What’s different is that each unit uses different representations, ensuring students have sustained opportunities, in varied contexts, to develop fluency with the number facts.
It can be effective to blend units together. For example:
• teach Stage 1, Unit 3, session 1: additive facts for 5 (which uses money as the representation);
• then teach Stage 1, Unit 4, session 1: additive facts for 5 (which uses Cuisenaire rods as the representation).
At Key Stage 2, rather than just working through the units in the order they are written, it can be more effective to alternate the focus on maths facts and calculation strategies across the week.
The ‘suggested curriculum map’ sets out an advised implementation model for Key Stage 2.
STAGE 7
This new section of the website is designed for Key Stage 3 students. It aims to ensure that all students in Year 7 develop a robust 'number sense' by learning to select the most efficient strategy for a specific calculation, rather than applying a single method to every problem they encounter. While the column method is often essential for larger, more complex calculations, it is often less efficient for simpler numbers.
The Stage 7 programme enables KS3 staff to reset students’ understanding, ensuring their mathematical practice is firmly grounded in strategic thinking.
Here is a question from the Higher Tier non-calculator paper.
Len has 8 parcels.
The mean weight of the 8 parcels is 2.5 kg.
The mean weight of 3 of the parcels is 2 kg.
Work out the mean weight of the other 5 parcels.
Students can use their understanding of how multiplication works to change step 1, 8 × 2.5kg, to 4 × 5kg. (4 × 5 is a calculation from Year 2.)
Step 2 is straightforward. 3 × 2kg = 6kg. (3 × 2 is also from Year 2.)
Step 3: 20kg – 6kg = 14kg.
Step 4: 14kg ÷ 5.
Students use their knowledge that dividing by 5 is the same as dividing by 10 and multiplying by 2.
14kg ÷ 10 = 1.4kg (Year 4)
1.4kg × 2 = 2.8kg
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