New community counting materials for children launched

Maths materials featuring local schoolchildren, adults and celebrities will be launched at an event at the University of Leicester on Tuesday 4 July.

The ‘Everybody Counts’ Project aims to provide children aged 4-12 in the local community with imaginative educational materials to help improve their numeracy skills.

The Project will hold its official launch event at Fraser Noble Hall, University Road from 11am on Tuesday 4 July and will include activity sessions for schools featured in the project, a short performance by the children and speeches from City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leicester, and Professor Rose Griffiths – Project Lead and Head of the University of Leicester’s School of Education.

The Hundred Square poster features 100 portraits - each person holding up a number from one to 100, and is a proven educational tool designed to help children feel confident with this range of numbers. In addition, each portrait will be included in a set of 100 playing cards that include the person’s name, age, the language/s they speak and an interesting fact about themselves.

Those featured range from children and teachers from local schools to celebrities such as author Jacqueline Wilson, reigning World and UK snooker champion Mark Selby, King Richard III and academics at the University of Leicester – including Emeritus Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, inventor of DNA fingerprinting.

Two posters and 10 packs of cards will be distributed free of charge to every primary school in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.