“Every child should have the opportunity to love maths.” - Karen McGuigan, Founder & Author

Maths For Life is Different

The Maths For Programme is as much for the educator as it is for the student and that is one of the reasons why it is so successful. Not only does it allow a student to express their view of the maths question, but it also teaches the educator to realise that maths isn’t as black and white as their own education in maths would have led them to believe. 

At Maths For Life, we understand that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn’t work and accept that we all see the world, and maths, in different ways. The programme opens the world of maths to a range of learners for whom the national curriculum timescale and structure isn’t attainable.  It provides instant support to educators and its age neutral approach to content makes it accessible to all students from infants to adults.

Maths For Life is Affordable

We are committed to ensuring that the programme is financially accessible to all and can be implemented at school, college and home without the need for expensive training.  The programme curriculum is contained in the educator guides; the online resource library houses a comprehensive suite of assessments, teaching materials and workbooks; and support for both the home and school user is available via the community forum, on-demand training and free weekly Q&A sessions.

The programme is currently being used in both mainstream and specialist settings at all educational levels, from preschool to further education college, and it is delivering positive and trackable results.

Maths For Life is Delivering 

And it is the trackable results that have allowed us to demonstrate that the Maths For Life programme is making a difference to a wide range of students with SEND and the staff supporting them. 

Oxfordshire County Council were impressed by the results of a parent-led Maths For Life pilot commissioned by and involving students from the Oxfordshire charity, Down’s Syndrome Oxford.  Given the effectiveness of the programme for students with Down syndrome, the Head of SEND at the council asked the question, “Will the Maths For Life programme work for all students with SEND?”.  The conclusion of the 2023/24 academic year pilot study sponsored by council was a resounding “Yes” - 93% of students increased their overall maths attainment.  And 92% of students improved their independence – meaning they needed less help to complete the maths.  Utilising the Hierarchy of Independence®, the educator and student have a clear pathway to reduce the help offered and increase their independence respectively.

“The goal of the Maths For Life programme is simple maths done accurately, independently and in real-life scenarios.”

It is the real-life context of the supporting materials that resonates with our autistic learners.  The ability to show how a maths concept is applied in an everyday setting changes the emphasis from the traditional rote learning and methodology to the underpinning understanding, the meaning in the mathematical concept in the world around them.  The programme moves away from ‘marking against a correct answer’ by not publishing answers.  Although this can be a struggle for some students (and educators!), it encourages the reasoning process, ruling in and ruling out options, and acceptance that there might be more than one answer to a question.  We call it “the importance of why”.  If a student’s answer differs from what the educator is expecting, seek to understand what they are seeing, reassure them that it is ok to have a different approach.  Validate their view of the world. 

This approach is the best reason to explain why the pilot was extremely successful for the autistic contingent of the participating students, equating to 30% of the pilot sample, who outperformed the overall average in both improvement in independence and attainment.  According to the educators working with these students, 81% of them improved their engagement in learning maths and 46% an improvement in self-esteem.  With 0% of the total sample population refusing to do it and 37% identified with improved reading, the Maths For Life pilot was a resounding success with many additional benefits over and above the main focus of improving maths attainment. 

“The launch event generated much excitement countywide for what the programme might achieve and, through dedication from schools and incredible support from the MFL team, the pilot has exceeded expectations.” 

Nicky Ashby-Guest, Oxfordshire County Council

“Without a doubt it has given my students the confidence to enjoy maths. All 4 of the children I work with 3 times a week said they ‘hate maths’ when they were asked a year ago. Now, a year on they cannot wait for their sessions.”

Sally Andrew, Teaching Assistant, Ladygrove Park Primary

Access the full pilot report and find out more about the Maths For Life programme...

Maths For Life SPECIAL OFFER

We are offering subscribers to the Autism Education Trust newsletter an amazing special offer. You can purchase all five educator guides (Foundations to Level 5), an annual subscription to the online resource library and the on-demand course, ‘Introduction to Maths For Life’ for only £250 for a home educator and £500 for a school.

To claim this special offer contact us at learn@mathsforlife.com and quote the code AETMFL24. Valid until 30th November 2024 - don't miss out!