Questions are asked over ‘dip’ in learning
Numeracy and literacy
A Perthshire councillor is seeking assurances after recent statistics pointed to a drop in numeracy and writing levels for primary school pupils in the region.
The query, for P4-7 pupils, was brought to light at the last meeting of the lifelong learning committee at Perth and Kinross Council.
Councillor for Strathmore, Fiona Sarwar, was referring to the 2018 raising attainment strategy update report where graphics outlined the “proportion of pupils achieving expected levels (CfE) of literacy and numeracy at P1, P4, P7 and S3” over the last five years.
The report found “writing and numeracy levels are generally lower than for reading and listening and talking, especially for P4 and P7.”
Cllr Sarwar said to the council: “From my understanding of the report and of what has been put in front of us, there has been an awareness that the levels of numeracy and writing are not where we would want them to be in P4 and P7.
“And I think this will be a continued focus throughout 2018/19 and that there will be strategies put in place there.
“What have you seen in terms of the gaps and what is being addressed?”
Sharon Hill, one of the officers of the report, said: “We are in early day in terms of our analysis of the gaps. But what we do know is that there has been a dip across P4 across the area, but in particular in numeracy and writing, and we gave some indication of what we know around that. Councillor Fiona Sarwar
“Numeracy across the piece is also a challenge and one of the benefits we have had this year is that we have been able to look across classes and schools to see which areas of the numeracy curriculum that children struggle with the most.
“We have a numeracy strategy developed this year and we are also part in a numeracy hub and a lot of schools are looking at gaps with there pupils and how to address that.”
The report expands on this saying it will: “Continue to develop and support the role of literacy and numeracy co-ordinators and share
good practice and ideas to improve learning and teaching across all schools.
“Look at literacy and numeracy coordinators in schools support practitioners to develop their understanding of relevance to curricular areas. Literacy and numeracy remains a priority for the PKC curriculum improvement networks and DHT (depute headteacher) school improvement and DHT support groups.
“And will establish literacy and numeracy strategy steering groups to oversee implementation of strategy and measure impact.”