Moreland Primary School partnered with Legal and General
Background to the Scheme
14 Pupils in Year 6 (aged 10 and 11 years) at Moreland Primary School have
been taking part in weekly sessions supported by volunteers from
Legal & General since January 2012.
The volunteers have 'buddied up' and attend fortnightly. This
works as it is convenient for volunteers who are able to respond to
work commitments but it also ensures that the pupils are supported
every week.
The focus has been on consolidating and practising basic skills,
including the learning of times tables and division facts.
Volunteers support the pupils to reinforce concepts learned
throughout the Year 6 curriculum through fun and interactive board
games. Developing children's confidence and self-esteem is a
priority. 'Talk for Maths' is another focus of each session with
volunteers and pupils engaging in discussions and debates as well
as the pupils having opportunities to discuss ideas and explain
reasoning at every opportunity available.
The school ensures that the space where the sessions take part
is well organised and ready upon arrival so that that every minute
of the session is used to the children's advantage. The number
partners find this extremely helpful as they can get straight down
to working beside the children.
Ms Lynsey Young (Maths Co-ordinator and Assistant Headteacher)
and Sara Heald (CSR Manager, Legal & General) work closely to
ensure that the sessions run smoothly. They also meet regularly to
review the progress of the partnership.
Impact of the scheme
- Pupils have developed confidence and proficiency in maths
skills.
- Children have developed confidence and self esteem.
- Pupils thoroughly enjoy the sessions and are happy to work
beside leading professionals.
- Children enjoy learning maths in a fun and lively
atmosphere.
- Pupils have the opportunity to meet people from a different
environment.
- The profile of the school has been raised in the local
community.
- Legal & General have provided funds to support the purchase
of games for wet playtimes and also provide reading mentors for
Year 4 and 5 pupils.
- Volunteers view their participation as a welcome change from
their day to day work.
Comments from volunteers include:
"It is a great feeling knowing that I'm helping the children to
get down to the heart and basics of mathematical learning. Number
Partner sessions are also fun for me and a break from my normal
working day."
"I look forward to the sessions every week. It's great to see
how we make such a contribution to the ways in which the children
learn their skills in maths."
"Number Partners is always enjoyable with the children. They are
so eager to participate and show great enthusiasm. It's great to
see the progress and improvement in their mathematical
understanding as the session's progress and move forward."
"The great enthusiasm and passion the children show towards the
number games as well as their determination to constantly improve
is very satisfying for me. To see the mental processes of the
children and to help them clarify their understanding is very
rewarding since this is something that they can carry forward for
the rest of their life."
Comments from pupils include:
"I love Number Partner sessions. I love the challenges that the
partners present and being able to take on an adult. We laugh, have
fun and compete against each other."
"I really enjoy the sessions each week. I really like playing
the games, especially those of time and place value. It's fun when
my Number Partner plays the game with me and my friends."