Funding from the SfLIP Regional Numeracy Development Grants for developing a balanced offer of numeracy teacher training in the regions was used to research the NE region’s capacity to create a supply of qualified numeracy teachers.
Within the North East region, work was undertaken in 2007-08 to identify current and planned numeracy teacher training provision. This information is available in the North East section of the Training and Development area of www.skillsforlifenetwork.com. Whilst the North East was ranked top by LLUK (2007) for having the highest percentage of qualified staff for teaching numeracy, if the Leitch target for numeracy is to be met there is still a need to increase the number of qualified numeracy teachers.
Therefore, as a region, an application for funding was made to:
– identify the gaps and additional programmes needed
– identify teacher education providers to develop new numeracy teacher training programmes.
The work was co-ordinated by Caryn Loftus, one of the Skills for Life Improvement Programme (SfLIP) regional Professional Development Planning (PDP) advisers on behalf of the North East Skills for Life Teacher Education Network. Caryn liaised with the three North East CETTs, which each identified an area that they wanted to explore to grow the pool of qualified Numeracy teachers in the North East. Their work covered the needs of pre-service, PGCE students and in-service teachers.
The summary outlines the findings of the research and the proposed actions. For further information contact Caryn Loftus.
