Question reference: S6W-18182
- Date lodged: 24 May 2023
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Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 June 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some local authorities are rolling out Maths Recovery training for teachers to address learning gaps caused by interrupted learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer
The Education Scotland National Numeracy and Maths Team continue to support local authorities and schools in delivering Maths Recovery training for teachers.
Education Scotland has led the Early Career Teacher (ECT) maths programme for two years and will do so again in academic session 2023-24. The programme was originally aimed at those who were unable to participate in normal school placements due to the pandemic and is designed to build confidence in teaching maths and numeracy. ECT has been accessed by over 1,000 practitioners this academic year and has been expanded to include teachers returning to the profession and those wishing to refresh their skills. In addition, Education Scotland has supported local authorities in Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, and Aberdeenshire in response to COVID-19 through a Maths Recovery Pilot; the outcome of which has yet to be evaluated.
Scottish Government is aware that some local authorities offer extensive Maths Recovery training which is not specifically related to the impacts of COVID-19. For example, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire have been offering Maths Recovery for some considerable time.