Setting pupils up for success in maths

03/23/21 • 60 min

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley discusses best practice in maths teaching, from establishing strong foundations in the early years, to making purposeful use of pupils’ misconceptions:

Simon Cox, EEF maths specialist and current secondary school teacher, discusses how maths teaching has changed in recent years and the importance of assessment (Start – 15:07);
Craig Barton, author and educational podcaster, highlights the importance of misconceptions and how they can be effectively tackled; (15:08 – 41:47); and
Fliss James, Early Years teacher at East London Research School, Specialist Lead and Evidence Lead in Education, explains how to cultivate a deep, holistic understanding of early mathematical concepts. (41:48 – End)

Further resources:

EEF, Improving Mathematics in the Early Years and KS1 Guidance Report (Published January 2020)

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley discusses best practice in maths teaching, from establishing strong foundations in the early years, to making purposeful use of pupils’ misconceptions:

Simon Cox, EEF maths specialist and current secondary school teacher, discusses how maths teaching has changed in recent years and the importance of assessment (Start – 15:07);
Craig Barton, author and educational podcaster, highlights the importance of misconceptions and how they can be effectively tackled; (15:08 – 41:47); and
Fliss James, Early Years teacher at East London Research School, Specialist Lead and Evidence Lead in Education, explains how to cultivate a deep, holistic understanding of early mathematical concepts. (41:48 – End)

Further resources:

EEF, Improving Mathematics in the Early Years and KS1 Guidance Report (Published January 2020)

Previous Episode

Ep 2: Managing Behaviour and Building Habits

In this episode, host Alex Quigley investigates the evidence on supporting pupils to form effective learning behaviours - both in-school and at home - with our panel of experts:

Kirsten Mould, EEF learning Behaviours specialist and current secondary school SENCo, explains how positive behaviours and routines underpin successful learning, in and out of the classroom (Start – 12:05). To find out more about learning behaviours, read Kirsten's EEF blog.
Harry Fletcher-Wood, author, researcher and associate dean at Ambition Institute, highlights the importance of embedding habits in sustaining pupils’ engagement with their learning; (12:05 – 28:03). To find out more about habits of success, read Harry's blog.
Jenny Thompson, principal of Dixons Trinity Academy in Bradford and behaviour advisor to the Department of Education, discusses the way in which shared language and culture set standards for behaviour within her school’s community. (28:03 – End). Hear more about the culture in the Dixons Trust here.

There is also a range of support resources for schools given the challenges of Covid-19 here.

Next Episode

Exploring the complexities of reading comprehension

In this episode, regular host Alex Quigley is joined by Caroline Bilton, assistant headteacher at Cragside Primary School and the EEF’s literacy specialist, to discuss teaching reading comprehension with our expert panel:

Professor Kate Nation, experimental psychologist and expert on language and literacy development in school children, explains the process of learning to comprehend text; (Start – 19:43);
Hydeh Fayez, Year 5 teacher and evidence lead in education, highlights the importance of exposing children to high-quality texts; (19:48 – 31:41); and
Stella Jones, Director of Teaching and Learning at Tower End Associate Research School, describes her school’s approach to improving pupils’ reading fluency. (31:48 – End)

Further resources: