Research Schools Network
 
East Cambridgeshire and Fenland Research School at Littleport CP School
 

East Cambridgeshire and Fenland Research School at Littleport CP School Newsletter

Issue #2

Autumn term

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to the November issue of the East Cambs and Fenland Research School Newsletter.

We have really enjoyed meeting you at our November 'Welcome' Meetings in Littleport, Wisbech, Bottisham, March and Ely, as well as at the Faculty of Education and Cambridgeshire School Improvement Board. 

We are delighted by the very positive response that establishing a Research School in our region is having, and look forward to working with you and other colleagues to grow the network locally and nationally. We hope your term is progressing well.

John Cattermole, Director

Rebecca Pentney, Research School Lead

 
 
 

Latest news

 
EEF maths GR

NEW GUIDANCE TO IMPROVE MATHS TEACHING FOR 7 – 14 YEAR OLDS

Good maths skills are essential for everyday life and a range of careers. Yet there remains a large and persistent attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) believes the best way to change this is through better use of evidence: looking at what has – and has not – worked in the past.


To support good maths teaching in Key Stages 2 and 3, they’ve published new guidance that gives schools and teachers practical ‘do’s and don’ts’ of great maths teaching.


The report covers eight practical and evidence-based recommendations on areas where there is evidence that schools can use to make a significant difference to pupils’ learning. It includes guidance on:

  • developing pupils’ problem solving skills;
  • using assessment to make a difference to pupils’ learning; and
  • effective use of manipulatives (physical objects used to teach maths).

The report is free to access and available here

 

Evidence

 
John Tomsett

CAN EVIDENCE REALLY INFORM PRACTICE?

The Sutton Trust–EEF Teaching and Learning Toolkit provides teachers and school leaders with an accessible summary of thousands of individual pieces of academic research to help them inform their teaching practice. In this blog post, John Tomsett, recounts an experience of using evidence from the Toolkit to source effective interventions to inform practice and improve pupil outcomes.

Read More

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE ON HELPING CHILDREN WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MATHS?

Many children struggle with maths, and taking early action can be key to helping to improve their mathematics ability. However, as children’s difficulties with maths vary, it is important to identify their individual difficulties and weaknesses, and target any intervention appropriately. Teaching in the intervention should be explicit and systematic. It is also recommended that interventions include a regular time dedicated to building fluent retrieval of basic arithmetic facts. There is good evidence that interventions should include opportunities for pupils to work with visual representation of mathematical ideas and be taught how to solve word problems.

Read More

 

Events and training

 

We will be offering CPD training and events throughout the year.

These will be advertised on the events section of our website, and in these newsletters, in particular the December issue, coming out Monday 11th.

Already scheduled is the Maximising Impact of Teaching Assistants course, hosted by Rob Webster at the new Secondary, Littleport and East Cambs Academy (LECA) on these dates:

Feb 19th (pm)

April 24th (am)

June 26th (am)

Further details and booking information coming very soon.

A range of further workshops and Training Events for the Spring Term and Summer Terms will be listed in our December issue.