Parents and children helped by maths week

Lyndhurst First School, in Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, started the week on Monday with a maths fair in the school hall for year one pupils.

There was hook-a-duck, bingo and skittle to name but a few activities, all with a maths twist.

Jo Halley, the school’s head of maths and assistant head teacher, said: “It’s about raising the profile with parents.

“It’s a really important subject and a really important life skill. Lots of parents had bad experiences with maths at school so it’s really important we try to help our parents, to give them ideas of things they can do with their children at home.”

A parents workshop was held on Tuesday, which taught them how to play maths specific games designed to help their children with mental maths at home.

Mrs Halley said: “The parents had a whale of a time. We had a really good response, a lot of parents turned up.”

The school has a times table tent set up outside as well as a welly shop where children can practice using money.

The school has curriculum weeks throughout the year, which sees each year group – from reception to year three, focus solely on one subject for a week.

“The teachers have organised all sorts of different maths activities in class this week, such as problem solving, using measures and shapes,” said Mrs Halley.

“We are presenting it in a way so they get enjoyment in the subject. We want to raise the profile of maths and our expectations.

“They can then find ways to work on the maths curriculum at home.”