Additional advice for individual volunteers
If you are an individual volunteer you can go through the same
process for becoming a Number Partner as volunteers joining as a
group. However, you may need to take on more responsibility for
co-ordinating your sessions.
Step One: Finding a School.
You may find it useful to contact your local Education Business
Partnership (EBP) to help with this. Details of how to locate your
local EBP can be found at https://www.iebe.org.uk/AEBE/Accredited-Providers.aspx.
Alternatively, you may contact a local school directly.
Once you have established a school which is keen to take part,
arrange a meeting, preferably with the teacher who will be your
Number Partners co-ordinator, to find out more and make plans. The
co-ordinator will be your initial point of contact for the school
and the pupils. You may wish to pass on our advice for
school co-ordinators.
In the initial meeting you may find it useful to ask
about:
- The school's numeracy guidelines.
- The day and time for the sessions and a start date.
- Availability of number games at the school.
- If you will have access to computers for use of online
activities.
- Where you will be based during the sessions, for example, in a
classroom or library.
- School contact details.
- School term dates.
Step Two: Involving Others
Now you and your link school are in agreement you may wish to
recruit additional volunteers and form a group. You might have
friends or colleagues that would be interested in joining you.
Alternatively, you may wish to display this poster at your link school, in your office or
on a community notice board.
Step Three: The Serious Stuff
Before you can begin you will need to complete a CRB form. This
will be facilitated by your EBP or directly by your link
school. Information about the police or criminal record
checks can be found at www.crbcheck.info or
www.crb.gov.uk or, if you are in
Scotland, at www.disclosurescotland.co.uk. These can take up
to six weeks so make sure you get this organised with plenty of
time before the first session.
Step Four: Get Informed
Number Partners Online
Training, designed to prepare volunteers for taking part, must
be completed before starting the sessions.
Step Five: Get Comfortable
Ask your school co-ordinator if you can have an induction
session on the first week. This is an important opportunity
for you and volunteers to meet each other and will
cover:
- Practicalities of the scheme.
- Games and resources available.
- Strategies to assist children with mental maths.
- Tips on being a successful number partner and gaining
confidence working with children.
- Child Protection.
- Registering and online training for volunteers
Step Five: Get Started
You're now ready to begin as a Number Partner! You will be
responsible for keeping the school informed if you are unable to
attend a session. The pupil's teacher will also appreciate it if
you keep them updated with their progress and inform them of any
concerns or successes you have encountered. Volunteers commit
themselves initially to visit the school for one term but are
encouraged to continue for the academic year and volunteers often
enjoy the experience so much that they continue for much
longer.