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Training Courses Options -- List of Courses Very Special Mathematics-- a full day course Rhythm of Life-- 1hr 30 min Count Me In -- 1hr 30 min 'Special Delivery' -- 1hr to 1hr 30 min What's in the Mathemagical Boxes? -- Around 1hr (flexible) Alternative Sessions Responding to Guidance -- 1hr 30 min Very Special Maths -- A full morning / afternoon The Mathemagical Boxes or resource discussion sessions Interpretation of the Revised Framework -- 1hr 30 min Fundamentals of Mathematical Thinking -- 1hr 15 min The Foundations of mathematics -- Flexible duration Mathemagical Resources -- 1hr 15 min to 1hr 30 min Making sense of P Scales for teaching -- A full day or a half day In School Consultations The Equals Guide to teaching mathematics Very Special Mathematics -- -- a full day course relevant for pupils with severe or profound learning difficulties Suggested programme The following programme has proved to be a good balance suitable for all staff teaching and supporting very special pupils, describing in detail how children learn, and promoting thinking about appropriate curriculum development and delivery, as well as offering ideas for resources and teaching. There are alternatives for some of the sessions so please contact the Very Special Maths office to discuss how they can be adapted to your needs. Suggested morning sessions Rhythm of Life -- 1hr 30 min Covers what "Mathematics" is for children with who may be working towards level one for many years, exploring how it enables them to observe and share information about their surroundings and occurrences in their lives. The session is about how all children learn but it will make special reference to the learning of pupils who work at the most fundamental levels. Les considers this to be an essential introduction for staff working with pupils across the range of P scales. Count Me In -- 1hr 30 min Looks at how children develop early concepts and skills that lead to understanding and communicating about quantities, learning about counting and carrying out early processes. The session will include practical examples and refer to resources that will help teachers with children of all ages who are working their way through P Levels towards the early levels of the National Curriculum. Suggested afternoon sessions 'Special Delivery' -- 1hr to 1hr 30 min Interpreting the revised numeracy framework for pupils with very special needs. This is a workshop session in two parts: It begins by outlining how the strands of Mathematics that are described by the Primary Framework can be interpreted to provide appropriate learning for pupils who are working across the range of P scales. It continues with a practical session giving groups opportunities to get hands on resources and discuss ideas about how to use them with their pupils. What's in the Mathemagical Boxes? -- Around 1hr (flexible) Les has very large boxes full of things and ideas - looking at these colourful resources should be incorporated into any training day it always inspires laughter and shopping trips - and ultimately learning. Alternative sessions -- Responding to Guidance -- 1hr 30 min Very useful session linking curriculum delivery to thinking about the nature of pupils special progress - it discusses "Special Strategies for special pupils" reviewing guidance from the QCA and the National Numeracy Strategy andother sources. It includes: QCA Guidelines -- Discussing Curriculum modification Pupil progression The range of opportunities for pupils across key stages About P levels Supporting work towards level one of the National curriculum, including fundamental mathematical content for P1 to P3 Looking at supportive materials and interpreting the strands of the Numeracy framework. - Making them relevant to fundamental learning. In 2005 QCA released further guidance about Using P scales - This training covers that guidance. Les also provides a full training day for school staff about 'Using P scales' - contact us if you are interested. Very Special Maths -- A full morning / afternoon A full morning that is relevant to pupils across the range of P scales. It illustrates processes of learning from sensory beginnings, moving towards counting, symbolic representation, abstract thinking and beginning the processes of addition and subtraction. The Mathemagical Boxes or resource discussion sessions Les includes a vast array of colourful resources and materials in his work. These are transported between venues in what he calls the "Mathemagical Boxes". This course discusses the use of these resources and explores ideas about incorporating them into educational sessions. The course is delivered with light humour and invariably leads to shopping trips and a lot of learning. Interpretation of the Revised Framework -- 1hr 30 min Making an appropriate interpretation of the revised Numeracy Framework Presenting and discussing approaches to the revised framework that are appropriate for pupils with very special needs. Fundamentals of Mathematical Thinking -- 1hr 15 min A session about mathematical language; mark making and recording; how children move towards abstract thinking and begin to develop concepts of addition and subtraction. This material has proved to be very successful with support services and teachers supporting very special pupils in mainstream settings. The Foundations of mathematics -- Flexible duration Aspects of the other sessions can be combined to provide a course with a an Early Years Foundation Stage emphasis. Very useful for staff who work in inclusive settings. Mathemagical Resources -- 1hr 15 min to 1hr 30 min This is a useful stand alone session when the day is shared with other speakers, or if your programme has not included Rhythm of Life or Count me in. In it Les uses his famous boxes of resources and a power point presentation as background to looking at aspects of the sensory learning that is at the root of learning about mathematics. Making sense of P Scales for teaching -- A full day or a half day This is a full or half day course relating to using P scales across all subjects. In School Consultations This can take many forms. E.g Curriculum development work with staff class room observation and participation. If you wish to discuss any of the above courses or would like me to develop any other approach to meet your needs please use the Contact Page for ways to get in touch. The Equals Guide to teaching mathematics Courses related to the Equals Guide can be arranged through the EQUALS office: EQUALS, PO Box 107, North Shields, Tyne & Wear NE30 2YG, Tel 0191 272 8600 Admin@equalsoffice.co.uk Training homepage... Training courses... Training charges... Training comments...