NNS intervention programmes

Springboard materials

Springboard is a catch-up programme for children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 7. The materials focus on key areas of number. They provide additional tuition for small groups of children outside the daily mathematics lesson (DML) during the weeks when these areas are being taught in the DML.

Springboard aims:

• to support the identified children and to remedy particular weaknesses in number so that they are in a better position to access and benefit from the teaching programme in their year and beyond
• to set the expectation that these children catch up with their peers
• to help teachers prepare a teaching programme enabling children to benefit fully from the main teaching programme for their year as soon as possible.

Springboard units

Springboard 3: Catch-up programme for children in Year 3 is intended for those children in Year 3 who have achieved level 2C in the Key Stage 1 national tests in mathematics and who, with extra help, are likely to achieve level 3 by the end of Year 4.

Each unit covers carefully selected teaching objectives mainly from the Year 2 teaching programme, which children must meet if they are to tackle with confidence the key objectives of the Year 3 programme. There is a detailed plan for each session, following the three-part lesson model developed by the National Numeracy Strategy and based on the teaching strategies outlined in the introduction to the Framework for teaching mathematics from Reception to Year 6. The programme includes detailed teaching points and key questions, and teaching objectives, vocabulary and resources are listed.

Springboard 4: Catch-up programme for children in Year 4 is intended for those children in Year 4 who achieved level 2C in the Key Stage 1 national tests in mathematics and who, with extra help, are likely to catch up and achieve level 3 by the end of Year 4.

Each unit covers carefully selected teaching objectives mainly from the Year 3 teaching programme, which children must meet if they are to tackle with confidence the key objectives of the Year 4 programme. There is a detailed plan for each session, following the three-part lesson model developed by the National Numeracy Strategy and based on the teaching strategies outlined in the introduction to the Framework for teaching mathematics from Reception to Year 6. The programme includes detailed teaching points and key questions, and teaching objectives, vocabulary and resources are listed for each unit.

Springboard 5: Catch-up programme for children in Year 5 is for use in Year 5. It is intended specifically for children who, without extra help, are likely to achieve level 3 in mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2.

The materials have been designed as a stand-alone 10-week course to be delivered to children in groups of 8–12. Some schools will receive funding to support the Springboard 5 initiative. Year 5 teachers in other schools may decide to deliver the course in full or to draw on the materials for use with children who do not have a sufficiently firm grasp of the groundwork required for the Year 5 teaching programme.

Springboard 6: Catch-up programme for children in Year 6 is a series of lessons designed to provide additional support in booster classes for children in Year 6 who, with intensive targeted support, can achieve level 4 in the Key Stage 2 national tests.

Experience has shown that many Year 6 children working just below the level 4 threshold can make the progress required to catch up by the time of the tests. Booster classes can help you to provide the help and support these children need. It is crucial for these children to reach the expected standard before entering Key Stage 3 if they are to fulfil their potential in mathematics and go on to achieve a good grade at GCSE.

Springboard 7: Catch-up programme for children in Year 7 is designed for teaching in the autumn and spring terms of Year 7. It complements but does not replicate the teaching materials for summer numeracy schools, which are based on the same set of teaching objectives. This means that pupils who would benefit from a catch-up programme in Year 7 but who did not attend a summer school will not be disadvantaged, while those who did attend a summer school should not feel that they are repeating lessons.