I’ve had a think about maths intervention for your SEND children and there are a number of programmes/resources out there that may be of use for you which I’ve listed below. Apologies for it being a bit wordy, but I couldn’t get it down to anything more succinct!
Suggestions for maths intervention support:
1. I know a few ‘Numbers Count’ teachers who think that the Edge Hill Numbers Count programme is the most effective intervention programme they’ve used. It is a big commitment, with training included and it is intensive but has a big impact on progress and works if used well. Here’s a bit from the site: Numbers Count...
- provides targeted use of the Pupil Premium
- supports the new National Curriculum for Mathematics
- raises mathematical attainment for the lowest achievers
- creates an ‘in-house specialist’ mathematics teacher who helps to raise standards for all learners
- provides detailed evidence of progress and impact
Here’s the link:
2. Maths Counts (http://mathscounts.co.uk) is a programme based on the Numbers Count research which looks very good (although possibly expensive) - it includes training for key staff, resources and lesson content to use. I’ve not seen it in action as its quite new but I like the look of it - this is from the site:
Maths Counts is designed to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ meaning that a wide range of tried and tested activities are readily available and easily accessible on the digital tool. This means that planning time is kept to a minimum. Following the Diagnostic Lessons at the start of the programme, information about each Learner is entered in to their own profile on the tool and this effectively creates a personalised “next steps” Learning Plan with clear, achievable objectives. After each lesson, the Learning Partner will need a minimum of 10 minutes to reflect on the needs of the Learner and to select appropriate activities, within a given lesson structure, for the next lesson. Lessons are planned one by one, building on the lesson before. Class teachers and Maths Leads are asked to support the Learning Partner with guidance and perhaps additional planning time, particularly in the early stages of “their” first cycle of Maths Counts.
3. A while ago I chatted to a TA that was using ‘Catch up Interventions’ and was pleased with the impact, so that may be worth looking at:
However, I think that skilled one-to-one intervention is the key and a programme isn’t necessarily needed. Research from the EEF backs this up, but a programme may be necessary for your TAs to have something to get them up to speed:
An evaluation of Catch Up Numeracy, a scheme of one to one maths support for pupils aged from 6 to 11, also demonstrates the value of structured interventions. The programme of twice-weekly sessions delivered by teaching assistants was trialled with 324 pupils in 54 schools over 30 weeks. Three groups were compared: one which continued with normal lessons, one which participated in the scheme and one group which was given one to one attention without Catch Up Numeracy.
The report concludes that both Catch Up and one to one intervention lead to significant gains in learning, an average of three and four months’ additional progress respectively, compared to continuing with normal lessons. However, there was little evidence that the Catch Up approach provides additional gains over and above those from one to one teaching itself.
4. If it is a set of books to use as specific support that you need then you should find sets that are maths topic focussed rather than a scheme so that the teacher/TA can pick out the maths practice needed to follow the class lesson and one-to-one or small group teaching. I’ve written some books in a KS2 series for ‘Keen Kite’ (used to be Letts) that would work very well and is pretty inexpensive for small sets.They are the ‘Ready, Steady, Practise’ series for Mental Arithmetic and for Fractions. They include a small textbook and a Teachers Book - would be ideal for TAs. This is a little info on the site:
Help pupils get to grips with key skills using progressively more challenging questions that are perfect for booster or intervention groups.
Clear explanations and worked examples ensure pupils grasp concepts quickly
‘How did you do?’ checks at the end of each topic allow pupils to self-evaluate their work
Regular progress tests assess pupils’ understanding and give them the chance to recap on their learning
Call us on 0844 844 1352 to order Booster and Intervention Packs of 20 Pupil Books and a Teacher Resource for only £99
Here’s the link: http://www.keenkite.co.uk/page
