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Numeracy at The Heys School |
Numeracy means understanding how maths is used in the real world and being able to apply it to make the best possible decisions.
At The Heys 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.
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.
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.
It’s as much about thinking and reasoning as about ‘doing sums’. It means being able to:
- Interpret data, charts and diagrams
- Process information
- Solve problems
- Check answers
- Understand and explain solutions
- Make decisions based on logical thinking and reasoning
Some fantastic websites related to the importance of numeracy with lots of ideas and resources are listed below:
What do we do to improve numeracy at The Heys?
During lessons we have a focus on fluency and understanding. Numeracy is interleaved throughout our schemes of learning and students practice numeracy in a range of real-life concepts. During our student’s time at The Heys they will work with time, money and a range of topics that support life beyond education.
We currently run an IDL numeracy programme that supports students who struggle with numeracy which helps improve their knowledge, understanding and builds confidence.
In addition, we have tutors that work across the different year groups to support learning by closing gaps in students’ knowledge.
As a school we celebrate key days such as National Numeracy day, Pi day and world mathematics day. More information can be found here:
https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/numeracyday
When do we use numeracy?
Examples
At Work
Giving correct change, weighing, and measuring, using spreadsheets, and understanding data.
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 restaurant.
In managing our finances
interest rates, understanding the financial implications of borrowing money, working out how much money to put into
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.
Help and Support
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.