Numeracy

Useful Websites

Some fantastic websites related to the importance of numeracy with lots of ideas and resources are listed below:

https://sparxmaths.com/

www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk

www.familymathstoolkit.org.uk

www.education.gov.scot/parentzone/learning-at-home/supporting-numeracy

www.vle.mathswatch.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

www.nrich.maths.org

What is Numeracy?

Numeracy means understanding how maths is used in the real world and being able to apply it to make the best possible decisions.

At Kirkby High School numeracy is embedded into all subjects, not just mathematics. We use numeracy in every aspect of our lives at work and in practical everyday activities at home and beyond. We use numeracy when we go shopping or plan a holiday, decide on a mortgage or decorate a room.

Our confidence and ability with numbers impacts us financially, socially, and professionally. It even affects our health and wellbeing. Poor numeracy can affect people’s confidence and self-esteem. It also has a massive effect on the economy of the country; an estimated £20.2 billion is lost to the UK through poor numeracy skills.

When do we use numeracy?	Examples
At Work	Giving correct change, weighing and measuring, using spreadsheets and understanding data.
In practical everyday activities at home and beyond	Working out how many minutes until our train, increasing a recipe to serve extra guests.
As Consumers	Understanding how much we'll save with a 15% discount, checking we've received the right change, working out how much to tip in a resteraunt.
In managing our finances	Setting and keeping to a budget, understanding interest rates, understanding the financial implications of borrowing money, working out how much money to put into a pension.
As Parents	Helping children with homework, playing board and puzzle games with children.
As patients making sense of health information	Managing our diet and nutrition, making and keeping medical appointments, measuring medicine doses, working out a routine for taking tablets regularly.
As citizens understanding the world about us	Making sense of statistics and graphs in the news, understanding information about government spending.

At Kirkby High School we want all pupils to have number confidence and the ability to understand maths in the real world. This will enable them to become numerate adults who can cope with the demands of everyday life.

What are we doing at Kirkby High School?

Every year group completes numeracy themed activities during form time each week. This is in addition to the numeracy that forms part of the mathematics curriculum and the numeracy found across all subjects.

In all years they complete basic skills during form to help with retrieval practice, exam skills and confidence. This is to help prepare them for life after Kirkby High school.

Understanding key vocabulary

For key phrases when helping your child with their homework please look at:

http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/home/maths-owl/expert-help--2/jargon-buster

Help and Support

As always the first point of contact is your child’s form tutor or Mathematics teacher.

Some pupils receive additional support from the inclusion department after they have been identified through various assessments.

Help and support doesn’t stop with the pupils. 30% of people wrongly believe that being good at maths is something you are born with, rather than a skill you can learn. If you identify with this statement or struggle to help your child with their homework then the National Numeracy Challenge could be suitable for you.

The National Numeracy Challenge is a free, online learning tool designed to help you improve your everyday Maths skills in manageable steps whilst building your confidence along the way. After taking an initial Check Up, the programme will create a personalised learning plan.
Join the 280,000 other adults who have registered to find out their numeracy level. Click on the link to try it yourself today.

https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/challenge