Nuffield Curriculum Centre

Nuffield Mathematics 5-11

General editor
Eric Albany

Background
The 1960s Nuffield Primary Mathematics programme was a huge success. At the time it was developed the team took the decision to produce only guidance for teachers, parents and teacher trainers.

However teachers asked for more guidance and more materials to put into the hands of their pupils. This is what Nuffield Maths 5-11 set out to achieve.

Aims
This project did not extend into the secondary school years. The aim was, above all, was to give practical, down-to-earth guidance to help teachers apply successfully the ideals and principles of the first project.version.

The approach
The guidance was based on a line of development starting with activity and experimentation, leading to think9ing and communication and ending up with the acquisition of skills and reinforcement.

The worksheets from the project were only intended for the last stage to give practice and build confidence.

The general guidance empahsised that as well as finding out and discovering things about mathematics, children needed to be told things abot mathematics too - particulalry when new vocabulary is involved.

Publications
The first edition was published in 1979. A second, National Curriculum version was published in 1990.

The published resources procide teacher guidance and pupil material.

The colourful Bronto books linked the extension of mathematics vocabulary with language development for 4.5 - 6 year olds. For the same age range there was a handbook for teachers and expendable worksheets.

A further handbook with expendable worksheets supported 5.5 to 7 year olds. While Handbooks 3 - 6 and pupil textbooks were suitable for 7 - 11 year olds.

Impact
The publications sold extremely well over a long period.

Nuffield primary maths remained committed to the notion that children learn through much practical work - for which printed publications are no substitute. The publications were provided for practice and reinforcement.

The National Curriculum at first featured many of the mathematical ideas explored and tested by the Nuffield project.

However high-stakes testing and later the national numeracy strategy brought about a marked change in classroom priorities and practice. Nuffield's slogan: 'I do - and I understand' faded into history.