Mathematics Enhancement Programme (MEP) Primary Extension

From 1998, under the direction of Professor David Burghes, a new mathematics course for primary schools in the UK was developed and trialled. This course, the Mathematics Enhancement Programme (MEP) Primary Extension proved to be very successful in enhancing mathematical progress in trial schools. Improvement in test results at Key Stage One had been at least as good as, or where MEP strategies have been implemented effectively much better than, the national average.

The aim of the programme was to raise standards in mathematics by promoting a more teacher-focused teaching philosophy together with the provision of suitable teaching resources. This teaching philosophy is based on the continental model best practised in mathematically high achieving countries such as Hungary and Poland.

This collection contains the detail of the philosophy and style of teaching advocated, a set of curriculum resources from reception to Year Six, the background to the project, a progress report up to the year 2000, details of the implementation and an occasional paper reviewing the programme which was published in 2004.

The materials in this collection consist of a clearly specified Scheme of Work for each of the years Reception to Year Six, notes on lesson plans, lesson plans, accompanying copymasters, transparencies, posters and pages from the practice books, some of which are also available interactively.

The classroom resources are grouped by year, each year except Reception having two practice books, each of which are further divided into blocks of about six weeks.

The Reception Year mathematics programme provides detailed lesson plans along with OHP transparencies and copy master material for reception year teachers. These pictures and worksheet figures are from the Reception book printed for the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. This book is the English version of the Hungarian original which was produced for kindergartens in Hungary.