News and research
The TES: Don't cut Every Child schemes' 'life-changing' cash, pleads NAHT
Published in The TES on 24 September, 2010 | By: Helen Ward
Giving schools more freedom over the curriculum will mean little if the Government cuts central funding to programmes such as Every Child a Reader (ECAR), heads' union the NAHT has warned.
The £6 million a year Government subsidy for the literacy programme - and its sister maths initiative Every Child Counts - enables schools to employ extra staff but will end next year.
Di Hatchett, director of Every Child a Chance Trust, which supports the schemes, said: "There is huge enthusiasm from headteachers for the programmes not only because they have an impact on closing the gap for the lowest achieving pupils but also because they are seeing huge benefits across schools.
"(Funding) pays for the infrastructure to train specialist teachers - for two universities who developed and run the professional development and 120 teacher leaders who train teachers, including their transport costs. It works out at about £100 per child helped."
Mike Welsh, president of the NAHT and head of Goddard Park primary in Swindon, intends to continue employing two full-time ECAR teachers.
"The teachers work with 16 children a year - about a quarter of my intake - and this programme changes lives," he said.
Mr Welsh, whose school was due to achieve academy status this week, said that he expected to fund ECAR with cash from the new pupil premium, which will provide additional money for supporting disadvantaged children.
But he added: "The concern is that although at school level we can keep those interventions by paying for additional staff, you need an infrastructure beyond school level.
"I think in the whole scope of things, even including the austerity measures, the ability of these programmes to change children's lives is worth it."
Essex Echo: Teaching scheme has changed my girl's life... I now fear it will be axed
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BBC News: One-to-one maths help for pupils
BBC News October 09
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8298191.stm
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One-to-one maths help for pupils |
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Thousands of six and seven year olds in England who struggle with maths are to be offered one-to-one teaching in school after a successful pilot scheme. In the pilot of more than 2,000 pupils, nearly 75% were able to reach expected levels in numeracy following tuition. From next September, the 30,000 least able pupils will get 20 hours of tuition from specialist teachers. Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: "It's time to break the cycle of poor numeracy skills being passed on." Overall numeracy standards have risen over the past 10 years in England, but one in five 11-year-olds still leaves primary school without achieving the expected level.
None of the children who took part in the pilot project had been predicted to achieve the expected level in maths at the age of seven. The cost of the scheme per child is £2,500 - a price worth paying, according to the government, to reduce the 15 million adults who currently struggle with maths. Mr Coaker added: "These are stunning results which show that inspiring and innovative teaching can stop the lowest achievers going into a downward spiral for the rest of their school careers and into adulthood. "Numeracy is not an optional extra for anyone - it is a part of everyday life and is all around us the entire time. It is vital children understand and are confident using basic maths concepts at a young age." The scheme, which will involve daily, 30-minute intensive sessions, will be run by the Every Child A Chance Trust, a partnership of the government, charitable foundations, the business sector and universities. Jean Gross, its director, said the programme "has had an amazing impact on children and on schools". She added: "It shows what can be achieved when business, charities and government work together. We look forward to seeing the scheme continue to grow, so that one day every child who needs help with numeracy can get it." |
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