Primary Network Meetings

Primary Network meetings are now open for booking. These take place in Lichfield, Tamworth and Burton during November, March and June. Find out what’s new in your subject whether it be mathematics, English or science. They are delivered by subject experts – Vanessa Brown, Karen Lawley, Jenny Hart and Wendy Precious. As always, there will be plenty of opportunities to network, share ideas and discuss school priorities.

To book your place, just drop me an email. For more details, see the fliers below.

Planning for Autumn term 2019

Summer holidays means one thing …… thinking about the autumn term.

In the new Ofsted Inspection framework taking effect in September 2019 it highlights the importance of mathematical subject knowledge.

the school has taken steps to ensure that all teachers of mathematics, including non-specialist teachers of mathematics, have sufficient mathematical and teaching content knowledge to deliver the topics they teach effectively

Ofsted Inspection Framework: September 2019 Para 287

I am offering a range of subject specific CPD across Staffordshire at various locations as part of the work I do with Teachers’ Resources and Courses (TCR) and formerly Rob Snaith Consultancy. You can book your place by visiting TCR’s website and book your place on line.

NCETM WM Conference

I have the great pleasure speaking and again leading a session at the NCETM West Midlands conference on Tuesday 2 July 2019 at the Walsall Campus of the University of Wolverhampton. No Johnny Ball this year, however I will still be going for the selfie with Mr Kangaroo Maths himself Steve Lomax. Watch this space – those of you who have attended by CPD sessions know how much I like Kenny’s Pouch.

The day will bring together teachers from all over the West Midlands with some great sessions exploring mastery delivered by a range of specialists will be part of the day’s programme. So hope to see you there.

To book your place, please follow this link.

Summer Term Network Meetings 2019

Preparation is already afoot for the planning of summer term network meetings for mathematics, English and science. In addition to our meetings delivering within clusters of schools, we also offer meetings in Lichfield (am), Tamworth (am) and Burton (pm). These take place within the school day. Meetings are delivered by either Vanessa Brown or Karen Lawley (maths), Jenny Hart (English) or Wendy Precious (science).


To book your place at just £50 per person, just email me with your name, school and choice of venue.

The summer term is a great time to evaluate this academic year as well as starting to make plans for the next one. Whichever provider you choose, being updated as to the latest developments is an essential part of a core curriculum leadership role. These meetings provide an ideal opportunity to network with other colleagues from schools in your area.

Summer Mathematics Courses 2019

It’s that time of year when we have every intention of getting ready for September and the new academic year. So you may want to start considering CPD needs for your staff. The proposed Ofsted framework for September 2019 highlights the importance of mathematical subject knowledge.

the school has taken steps to ensure that all teachers of mathematics, including non-specialist teachers of mathematics, have sufficient mathematical and teaching content knowledge to deliver the topics they teach effectively

Paragraph 297

As a result, my CPD sessions in 2019 – 2020 will focus on developing subject knowledge as well continuing to address the mastery agenda. As you can see above I am offering a new subject knowledge session on Place Value as well as familiar titles of bar modelling and manipulatives. I continue to work with Rob Snaith Consultancy around the Staffordshire offering interactive and thought provoking professional development. For further details or to book your place, please visit robsnaith.co.uk.

Spring Network Meetings

Great to catch up with so many of you during the Spring term network meetings for mathematics (English and Science). Subject leadership can be a very lonely and pressurised place at times and I would always advise you attend a network meeting (with any provider) to make sense of the madness. Of course if you’d like to join us during the summer term, details will be emailed to schools soon or you can keep informed by following me on Twitter. Network meetings are often lively and a great place to bounce ideas around and find out what’s happening both locally and nationally in mathematics. Hope to see you in the Summer.

Greater Depth in Years 1 – 3

The National Curriculum for Mathematics aims to ensure that all learners: become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, reason mathematically by thinking about relationships and can solve problems by applying their mathematics to increasingly complex problems. This session is designed to develop a deep conceptual understanding of learners’ mathematical reasoning. We will also explore the importance of effective questioning in developing these skills since the quality and variety of language that learners hear and speak are key factors in developing their mathematical vocabulary and presenting a mathematical justification, argument or proof.

This session will take place at St Thomas’ Priory Golf Club, Hawkesyard, Armitage (WS15 1PU).

Thursday 21 March 2019 0900 -1200

Enquiries or bookings can be made by visiting enquiries@robsnaith.co.uk


Primary Headteacher Update – Spring 2019

Caroline Holder, Jane George, Jenny Hart, Karen Lawley, Vanessa Brown and Wendy Precious are all highly experienced, knowledgeable consultants; qualified teachers; DBS checked and fully insured with a proven track record of working with schools to strengthen subject knowledge and pedagogy – thus improving outcomes for learners in Mathematics, English, Science and PE.

This meeting will give you as a HT an overview of the latest developments in mathematics, English, science, PE and assessment as well as key questions to discuss with your subject leaders back in school.
Click on this link for timings and programme.


Times Tables

Many schools are targeting times tables recall this year with the potential opportunity to trial the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) this academic year before it becomes statutory in summer 2020.

I’ve been delivering Times Tables CPD in schools this term and reminding colleagues about the importance of the teaching of times tables sitting alongside the testing of times tables. Many schools are buying into TTR – Times Tables Rockstars – which is a real motivator for many children to develop their quick recall.

But let’s remember about teaching time tables as well, thinking about the key teaching points of repeated addition, commutativity, related facts, inverse and fact families. Using manipulatives can highlighted many of these key features.



I have also been showing the ATM clip of Jill Mansergh teaching a large group of student teachers the x17 tables. My delegates have been watching this open mouthed, often reluctant to join in at first then unable to resist by the end. One teacher asked a great question after watching it: “does it work for any table?”. We then proceeded to practice with a counting stick using the table of their choice (most chose x7). If you have never seen this clip or haven’t for a long time, I strongly advise that you look it up on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXdHGBfoqfw

Interested in finding out more….

 
For more details and to book your place, please visit:
www.robsnaith.co.uk

 

Using Numicon and Other Concrete Resources to Develop Secure Understanding

Tuesday 11 September  09:00-12:00

This course is aimed at teachers and TAs and will discuss the concrete, pictorial and abstract approach and why it is so important for teachers to use manipulatives in the classroom at both KS1 and KS2.

We will explore how different manipulatives (Numicon, Multilink cubes, counters, bead strings, Cuisenaire rods, counting sticks, place value cards, hundred squares, digit cards, dice, dominoes) can support conceptual understanding in the primary classroom as well as being developed to be used as a reasoning tool.

For more details and to book, please go to go to robsnaith.co.uk