The programme works to increase parents’, carers’ and school staff’s confidence with numbers for both their own benefit and to be able to support children’s maths learning better.
It also aims to establish lasting approaches and strategies, which can continue in the years following the programme.
Among the findings featured in the End of Year Report are:*
81% of schools reported improved maths attainment.
89% of parents/carers are more likely to engage in their child's maths learning in the future.
All this is possible thanks to support from a group of corporate partners with a shared mission of improving numeracy for all.
Read on to learn more about the Schools & Families programme and how you and your school or organisation can get involved!
What are the aims of the Schools & Families programme?
For participating schools, the year-long programme aims to:
- Boost pupils’ confidence with numbers, foster positive attitudes towards maths, and highlight its importance beyond the classroom.
- Empower parents, carers and school staff with the skills and confidence to support children’s learning in maths.
- Create sustainable strategies and approaches that will continue to benefit schools and families long after the programme ends.
How is this achieved?
The following activities and resources are all included in the programme:
- Numeracy Champions Training: 553 staff trained, with 98% feeling more confident supporting others.
- Family Maths Toolkit: Used by 8,100 pupils and nearly 7,000 parents/carers.
- ‘Help Your Child Love Maths!’ workshops: Engaged over 2,500 parents with 88% feeling more able to support their child with maths.
- Parental Engagement Training: Attended by over 140 staff, with 91% reporting greater confidence in engaging parents.
- Feeling Better About Maths workshops: Designed for building staff’s number confidence; 76% of participants felt motivated to improve their numeracy.
- Volunteering: Corporate volunteers reached over 3,450 pupils showing the value of maths in different jobs and hobbies.
- National Numeracy Day: Over 11,000 pupils took part in various activities, including a live assembly and the Number Heroes competition.
- Expert-led webinars: Additional CPD opportunities for school staff including on financial education, maths anxiety and dyscalculia.
- Forums: All schools are invited to attend termly online Forums. These Forums provide support, updates, a chance to share experiences, and opportunities for schools to connect with each other.
- Legacy: The Schools & Families Programme has been designed for sustainability and long-term impact. After completing the programme, schools receive a legacy package enabling them to continue fostering a number-positive culture.
- National Numeracy Challenge: All schools are provided with access to the National Numeracy Challenge – an online learning platform that helps staff, parents and carers check and improve their everyday maths skills while building confidence.
What impact has the Schools & Families programme had so far?
The programme has delivered measurable improvements across key areas for schools completing the programme:
- Attainment: 81% of schools reported improved maths attainment.
- Parental Engagement: 89% of parents/carers reported that they are more likely to engage in their child’s learning in the future.
- Confidence with Numbers: 80% of parents/carers attending a workshop felt more confident with maths.
- Supporting Children’s Learning: 87% of parents/carers attending a workshop felt better able to support their child with maths learning.
- Positive Maths Culture: 85% of schools reported a positive cultural shift towards maths in pupils, and 73% of families noticed more positive attitudes at home.
Schools & Families programme feedback
Read some of the positive feedback the programme has received since launching in April 2024:
“Participating in the Schools & Families Programme has significantly benefited our school community by fostering a more positive attitude towards maths among both pupils and their families.” (On the Schools & Families programme)
“One parent gained the confidence through the National Numeracy Challenge to pursue her Maths GCSE.” (On the National Numeracy Challenge)
“There has been a definite increase in parental engagement in homework. Parents are interested and asking questions. Children are keen and proud of their scrapbooks.” (On the Family Maths Toolkit)
“Really engaging and helpful, thank you! Lots of great ideas to do with parents and it’s fantastic that everything is done for us.” (On Numeracy Champions training)
“My favourite part of running the workshop was the impact it had beyond the session itself. The next day, a Year 2 parent caught me at my classroom door to say they’d gone home and let their child use measuring cups while cooking.” (On the Help Your Child Love Maths! workshop)
“Children enjoyed taking part in the Number Heroes competition – understanding how maths is all around us and how they would use maths in their own dream job/hobbies.” (On one of the National Numeracy Day activities)
Sam Sims, National Numeracy CEO, said:
"We are incredibly proud of the stellar impact achieved through the first year of our Schools & Families Programme thanks to the generous support of our partners and funders.
“From boosting children's learning and attainment, to improving parental engagement and helping schools to create a positive maths culture, the programme is achieving fantastic results.
“Our aim is to leave a lasting legacy with pupils, families and schools by boosting number confidence and building positive attitudes towards numbers and maths."
