Maths packs add up to success in Buckie
MATHS packs are being sent home with Buckie primary pupils to encourage parents to become more involved in their children’s learning.
Inside the newly-created packs, which are going home with every P1 and P2 pupil in St Peter’s Primary School, are homework activities, ideas sheets and a guide to help parents engage with early year’s maths and numeracy.
Headteacher, Mandy Feeley, said the pack was produced using feedback from pupils, parents and staff, and purposefully does not include any links to websites, to encourage parents and children to engage with each other.
“The school council, which was set up in 2017/18 to focus on curriculum and attainment, wanted to focus on maths and numeracy. We held a series of initiatives including a whole school code-cracker challenge, maths games, clubs and a maths week.
“One initiative which was not successful, due to lack of parental uptake, was coming into school to participate in a maths lesson. This led to us looking at how else parents could be engaged - and the idea of a maths pack that could be sent home and also used in the classroom seemed to be a good solution.
“I’ve since met with other local teachers, and staff within each primary school in the Buckie area are now working together to look at how we can roll out these maths packs across all our schools.”
Chair of Moray Council’s Children and Young People’s Services Committee, Cllr Sonya Warren, praised the innovative idea.
“Not all parents can make it into the school for activities due to work or other commitments, so I really welcome the introduction of these packs, which allow parents and children to learn with each other outside of school. Not only does it reinforce the learning which has taken place in the classroom, it hopefully fosters good habits as parents and children continue to learn together.
“I’m looking forward to hearing from the P1 and P2 pupils – and their parents - how they enjoy the experience, and seeing it introduced to other schools.”
Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live. Nestling between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, Moray stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Brodie Castle in the west.