Very Special Maths Practical guidance for the teaching of mathematics in special schools

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About Les Staves --   Les staves has worked with SLD and PLD kids since 1973 and was head teacher of Turnshaws, a special school in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. He retired after his school had an outstanding Ofsted report in 1999. Since then he has been working as a consultant to Special Schools. He has also written materials and delivered training for the National Numeracy Strategy and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Les provides Training Sessions and Workshops for schools and LEAs across the country related to Maths for very special pupils. Sessions cover the teaching of pupils who are learning at the most fundamental levels, and those who may spend a long time working towards Level 1 maths. His book "Mathematics for Children with Severe and Profound Learning Difficulties" published by David Fulton Press has been very well received, the first print run selling out in seven months. Some of the articles he has written for SEN publications can be found on this site. The training that Les provides has been described as "Inspirational". He delivers a colourful description of why Mathematics is important for pupils with very special needs and how children establish early mathematical concepts, Right from the beginning of sensory appreciation of quantity, time and space -- through to how children learn about counting and the fundamental processes of numeracy and calculation. Each training session is interwoven with an entertaining demonstration of resources, that will give ideas to teachers of all kinds of children who working towards level one in special and mainstream schools. The training sessions now include an appropriate interpretation of the revised Numeracy Framework. Read more... Les is also the moderator for the newly formed "P Scales Discussion Forum".