Making Fluent and Flexible Calculators – Autumn 2024

About this Course:

This 8-week research project aims to improve pupils’ understanding of mental calculation by focusing on establishing strong base fact knowledge and combining it with rich, flexible strategies to help key stage 2 and key stage 3 pupils solve calculations efficiently and accurately.

Pupils need to know more than the base facts in isolation. To secure pupils’ success in calculation, they need to be able to use their base facts to help them solve more complex calculations. Gaps can become even more evident as pupils progress through the primary curriculum and beyond. The inability to solve calculations efficiently, flexibly, and accurately means that pupils have less cognitive space and energy to think about problem-solving and may frequently lose track of their thinking.

On average, pupils make 8 months progress in their mental fluency during the 8 week programme. 

The programme lasts 6-8 weeks and is fully resourced, including:

• entry and exit diagnostic suite with digital mark book
• detailed small-step teaching guidance
• practice resources
• fluency PowerPoint slides

Research teachers (based in KS2 or KS3) will participate in two training sessions:

Tuesday 15^th October 2024: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (remote)

An online live launch event will share the project rationale, explore the provided diagnostic materials and model how to use these to conduct entry baseline assessments.

Monday 11^th November 2024: 9:00am - 3:30pm (face-to-face, Hertfordshire Development Centre)

The face-to-face training will introduce the teaching sequences and resources. The research leads will provide support to ensure that teachers leave the session with detailed plans around how to implement the programme to meet the needs of their class based on entry assessments.

Venue

Hertfordshire Development Centre,

Stevenage

Herts SG1 2FQ

 Refreshments and lunch included.

 In addition, remote 'check-in' opportunities will be available to research teachers after this time to provide ongoing support.

Research teachers will complete exit diagnostic assessments in December 2024.

The research team will then contact teachers to gain their insights and reflections.

Learning Outcomes:

Teachers and Leaders will:

• use provided diagnostic assessments to precisely identify mental maths strengths and weaknesses within cohorts
• establish a clear, achievable plan to support mental maths learning for targeted cohorts
• support teachers to make the most effective use of diagnostic assessments to adapt their provision to best meet pupil needs.

The total cost of the course is £450 (+VAT)