Family Numeracy

This course is designed to help parents, carers and grandparents build their confidence in numeracy while learning how to support their child’s maths development. It typically runs with parents from Reception or Year 1 groups, but it can also be delivered with older primary year groups if needed.

The programme strengthens the relationship between home and school by inviting parents into the primary setting one morning a week. It helps remove barriers, encourages families to engage with learning, and gives parents the chance to meet one another and form new friendships. Children love seeing their parents in school, and the sessions often create a real buzz across the class.

A key aim is to reduce the worry many parents feel about supporting homework as their child progresses through school. As their own maths confidence grows, they feel more prepared to help at home. Parents can also work towards a Functional Skills Maths qualification as part of the course.

Typical session structure:

9:00–10:30am — Parent Session
Held straight after the school run, this relaxed and friendly session includes tea and coffee and focuses on developing parents’ maths skills. A college tutor delivers the session in the school (often in the library or ICT suite). The content usually links to the maths work children will be doing later in the morning. Topics might include basic number skills, the different methods children use for subtraction, multiplication and division, and mental maths strategies.

10:30am–12:00pm — Parent and Child Session
A teaching assistant or member of school staff brings a small group of children (usually 8–10) whose parents are on the course. Parents work one-to-one with their own child on curriculum-linked numeracy such as number, shape, space, measures or data handling. Group activities can also be included where appropriate.