Numeracy Matters

Poor numeracy can have an adverse effect on a person’s confidence and self-esteem, particularly when asked to perform calculations mentally. Improving mental calculation skills can therefore have a positive impact on both learning and applying mathematics in everyday situations.
We believe in helping people strengthen everyday numeracy skills. This might include keeping score in a game of darts, checking that you have been given the correct change, or helping children and adults learn to perform arithmetic calculations in their heads.
Many everyday life activities depend on basic numeracy. We all need the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide confidently, whether mentally or on paper when necessary.
This approach can support other important life skills, such as:
• Reading a timetable to determine how long you must wait for a bus or train and how long the journey will take.
• Preparing food for a special occasion and adjusting a recipe to cater for the number of invited guests.
• Managing a family budget and dietary requirements.
• Checking that you have been given the correct change in everyday situations such as paying for food or drinks in a restaurant.
And for dart players, remember that the scorekeeper is technically the referee for the match – so it is important to handle numbers accurately and avoid a misplaced dart.
Mathpuzzler was created to support this kind of everyday numeracy development through fresh maths puzzles and regular mental arithmetic practice on Android devices.

Everyday Calculations

We believe that recognising the impact of poor numeracy is the first step towards improvement. Difficulties with mental calculation can affect confidence in many everyday situations.
Our aim is to help reduce the frustration that some young people and adults experience when dealing with everyday calculations, and to support them in developing stronger mental arithmetic skills.

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Next Steps

Numeracy is a significant issue that involves mental calculation skills which are not always fully developed at school or college. Many people experience difficulties with numbers, sometimes referred to as arithmophobia.
We are at the beginning of our journey to help raise awareness of the importance of numeracy and to support those who wish to improve their confidence with numbers.
Further information about national initiatives, research and resources can be found at the National Numeracy website.

National Numeracy Website