National Numeracy Parental Engagement project - survey

[SarahMumsnet]

Children's first encounters with maths come from their parents and carers - from sorting toys to measuring ingredients; going shopping to telling the time. Talking about and taking part together in activities that involve maths can make a big difference to children’s confidence - and future achievement. But when it comes to a subject such as maths, lots of us feel worried about how best to help, and aren’t sure where to look for support.

National Numeracy is running a Parental Engagement project that aims to support parents and carers in engaging with their children’s maths education and in improving their own maths skills. We’re talking to parents all over the country to find out what kind of support they really want when it comes to maths - and we'd really like Mumsnetters' input.

If you'd like to help shape the next stage of our project, please take our Parents’ Survey - it'll only take five minutes.

Thanks very much for your help - if you'd like more info now, do go to our Help for Parents and Carers page to downloads parents’ guide to everyday maths.

I thought the survey was annoying and patronising.
I don't think of half the stuff I do with the children as "Maths". It is just is part of every day life, from Map reading to cookery to drawing something to scale. Or even constructing a marble run or trying to fit something through a doorway when it is the wrong size. I don't point this out to the children, they learn the theory in school and then they start to make their own connections. I think it sinks in over time, but you what you need is teachers who are extremely patient and able to explain things. Some of us are bad at mental Maths but good at logic. We don't get things fast but if it is explained in context it stays with us forever and becomes fascinating like the door to some magical world.
I got a C in my Olevel Maths and am always grateful to my wonderful patient secondary teacher who did not give up on me. I found Maths extremely difficult as a child/teen, but now I see the value of what I learnt, and it is thanks to her.
My parents were very quick at Maths and that was not help at all!!!

check out www.noalot.com/

• engaging parents with their children's learning

It was disappointing to see the survey was so school orientated. It would be a great shame if schools were the only way they tried to share information.

Done.

I think schools have a big part to play in helping parents with helping their children with maths, especially given how much things have changed in teaching styles. I can't understand how, in the time my DS has been in school (2 years) we have had 3 open evenings dedicated to spellings/literacy etc and yet every time I have been in and asked for help with maths (and I know I'm not alone here) I've been brushed off by the teacher/head because "we're only teaching basic stuff".

Well, it may be basic to YOU, but it's not basic to ME.

Done.

I can use maths in everyday life, but I use a calculator to double check answers (even when I know they are correct... )

Ds1 (14) is naturally gifted at maths so I rely on him to show ds2 (11) the things I cant get my head around.... Ds2 lacks confidence like me

I struggle with the school's refusal to share the tests with me. I want them so I can see what my children do and don't need help with. But the school gets all paranoid protective with their information. It's not helpful, and it certainly doesn't support the children's learning.

Some teachers will share it with me and other won't. Usually, after I get a little stroppy, they give in. But, frankly, it's easier to tell them to sod off and hire a tutor. So I do. Unfortunately, that can lead to confusion for the children. However, sometimes they learn that there is more than one way to do maths and that's not actually a bad thing.

survey done - very basic and I do question how useful it would be - unless its simply a first step to generating some kind of online parent training.
juniper44 I find your response fair but very much thinking from the teacher and child perspective and certainly I agree its very hard for a parent to teach a child in the new method. My own opinion is more from the side of a frustrated parent who wants to help her son but struggles. its particularly hard when home work is sent home ( age 10) as photocopied sheets to complete which have no worked out method or advice attached. Yes my son is only being given work which consolidates his learning in class but its pretty hard to support any area he is stuck on with out having clear outlines of what you are actually doing in the class room. when venting frustration with other Northern Irish mothers I find others in the exact same boat. it would seem its particularly hard when it is your first child. I think a workshop for parents at the start if each term would make a massive difference.

I think the tricky thing is there's more than one way to skin a cat.
I don't want to confuse my kids by showing them a way that maybe different to their way of doing things, at least not until they feel competent in doing what they need to at school.
But I buy maths and science books they cam dip into as they please, and give them basic problems to solve that will help give them confidence.
Maths needs to be sold by schools as something good and packaged as something kids will enjoy (space / cars / clothing / whatever)

Done !!

Yes

Done. I love that people are asking questions and examining the teaching of maths and support for children!

I am sorry I don't agree juniper44
I don't understand how so many kids can leave primary school with such poor numeracy skills if the current school methods are working and so superior to the old methods
The primary schools have kids for 7 years and they are still coming out with poor numeracy skills
I think the schools should get back to basics

Done, not sure it's submitted.

Done

done