Promoting maths: 3 out of 5 Challenge

3 out of 5 is a scheme which aims to engage prison learners in maths, particularly outside the maths classroom - in the gym, garden, library or non-maths education.

Learners complete the '3 out of 5 Challenge' by completing Challenge Cards on 3 our of 5 topics: A Rough Idea, Puzzle it Out, Value 4 Money, Maths Facts and Practical Numbers To support the scheme there are Guidance notes.

HMP Guy's Marsh won the Challenge Award for 2017/18. If you'd like to take part in this year's challenge, please contact Joan O'Hagan at joanpohagan@gmail.com by 28 February 2019. 

Maths in context

It can be hard for some learners to understand why they need to improve their maths skills. This series of vocational flyers highlight opportunities that the prison workshops bring to gain skills for employment and explain why maths skills are needed.

For example, the flyer, Working in Construction: Bricklaying includes:

• Accurately calculate the number of bricks needed for a set task
• Set out and accurately measure areas for construction
• Estimate and provide accurate costs for all work to be completed

Teaching, learning and assessment

Our Unlocking Maths guide provides practical teaching strategies that promote active learning. Whether you are looking for ideas on how to deliver group work, differentiate, embed maths or use technology to support your delivery you'll find information, activities, links and examples within the sector.

Watch our active learning in the secure estate video which was created to accompany the guide.

Take a look at the Maths Pipeline Vocational Guides at the bottom of the page.

Maths peer mentors

Peer mentors support maths learning in a number of ways in over 30 prisons across England. Mentors help their peers to handle everyday maths situations, to become more confident with maths, and to develop the maths skills they need in prison workshops, and they encourage their peers to join maths courses.

Free resources, including materials for running a peer meths mentor training programme, are available for download. 

Watch our Developing peer mentoring video to learn more.

Continual professional development

Do you want to refresh or develop your personal maths skills? Take a look at the Pathways through maths resources course on Foundation’s online learning environment. Use the self-assessment tool to direct you to the resources you need or select topics of interest. You'll find tips on teaching the topics too. 

As well as this course to develop your personal maths skills the Foundation offers a whole range of courses within the Maths Pipeline programme.

On our News and Events page we highlight events and courses relevant to the sector.

Find out what other practitioners and providers are doing in their delivery of maths by subscribing to our free Offender Learning Newsletter.

Resources

We have a wide variety of resources that can help you develop your practice  - see bottom of page.

Take a look at the Maths Starters and Enders cards which contain maths activities that you can use at the start or end of prison workshops, training or education sessions.

You'll find further resources on our maths, English and ESOL page.

Would you like printed copies of resources? You can request printed copies of a number of our maths resources by completing this order form.