How to use this exemplar to improve practice?

The aim of Pizza Maths:

To increase families' confidence in their own skills and abilities to use numbers and maths in their everyday lives. To encourage critical and creative thinking, as well as problem solving skills, which are transferrable to everyday situations such as personal and family life, education and work.

Outputs:

• Parents became more confident in supporting/helping their children with numbers/maths homework.
• Parents became more involved in their child(ren)'s school learning and activities.
• Parents developed their own numeracy/maths skills.
• Children's confidence in using numbers/maths increased.
• Children's numeracy/maths skills improved.

Improvement questions

• What evidence do we have that family learning is improving the life chances of the family involved?
• Are outcomes for children improving as a result of their participation in family learning?
• To what extent can we demonstrate that families are feeling included and that participating, achieving and progressing?

Download

PDF file: Learner celebration certificates (318 KB)

Explore this exemplar

What was done?

Pizza Maths was delivered to families of P4 and P5, by Adult Learning and Literacies staff (CLD). This was delivered over a 10 week period using a range of learning and teaching methods and techniques, including using mini wipeboards, games; tactile participative activities, and challenges for home to encourage transferable and continued learning. A free crèche was provided.

The learning and teaching was planned using the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy Reports and Renfrewshire Council’s Progression and Support Pathways, and in negotiation with the School Numeracy Champion and the families.

Course content explored individual feelings associated with maths, and helped to identify any bias, in order to develop positive habits, attitudes and behaviours towards maths. Learning included: notation and language for everyday maths to develop understanding; goal setting to help raise aspirations and revision of maths problems and concepts. Formative assessment was carried out throughout the learning.

Why?

Parental and family engagement in their child’s education is a key factor to ensuring successful outcomes.
This is an example:

• Identifying and driving strategies to improve attainment in literacy and numeracy
• Working with partners to explore new and innovative approaches to tackling inequality.

What was the impact?

The programme evidenced that the parents had increased confidence in their own ability to be able to support their children with maths. They also increased their skills and knowledge around the language, terminology and use of maths to support their children with their learning.

Family and individual aspirations were raised through goal setting and regular review.