Evaluation of the Catch Up Numeracy programme

ISRCTN	ISRCTN33398647
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN33398647
Secondary identifying numbers	EFCU

Submission date: 21/11/2013
Registration date: 19/05/2014
Last edited: 15/03/2017

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Other

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Catch Up Numeracy is a one-to-one intervention for primary school children who are struggling with numeracy (mathematical ability). It consists of two 15-minute lessons per week for up to 30 weeks, usually delivered by teaching assistants (TA). To prepare them for the programme, teaching assistants are supplied with detailed lesson plans and receive three half-day training sessions. The programme breaks numeracy down into ten components, tests childrens ability on each, and targets subsequent instruction so that the tutor always addresses the exact area of weakness.

Who can participate?
Pupils in years 4, 5 and 6 who are struggling with mathematics will be selected by schools for inclusion in the project.

What does the study involve?
Each participating school will provide two teaching assistants who will be randomly allocated to deliver the Catch Up program or a time-equivalent program. The TA assigned to the Catch Up program will receive the necessary training from Catch Up. Six eligible pupils will be provided from each school and these will be randomly allocated to receive the Catch Up program, a time-equivalent program, or normal lessons in numeracy. The program will run for 30 weeks and pupils will be tested in numeracy before the start of program and at completion of the 30-week period. This will identify gains in numeracy ability.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The programme may improve pupils' numeracy ability.

Where is the study run from?
The study is run from selected primary schools in the UK.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to last?
The project started in October 2012 and ran until June 2013.

Who is funding the study?
Education Endowment Fund (UK).

Who is the main contact?
Mr Simon Rutt
s.rutt@nfer.ac.uk

Contact information

Mr Simon Rutt
Scientific

The Mere
Upton park
Slough
SL1 2DQ
United Kingdom

Phone	01753 637396
Email	s.rutt@nfer.ac.uk

Study information

Study design	Three armed randomised trial
Primary study design	Interventional
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)	Other
Study type	Other
Participant information sheet	Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a participant information sheet
Scientific title	Evaluation of the Catch Up Numeracy programme: a randomised trial
Study objectives	The Catch Up Numeracy programme, by breaking numeracy into component parts, leads to an increase in numeracy for the 30-week period where the program is in use within schools.
Ethics approval(s)	National Foundation for Educational Research Code of Prcatice Committee
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Educational attainment
Intervention	Catch Up Numeracy is a one-to-one intervention for primary school children who are struggling with numeracy. It consists of two 15 minute lessons per week for up to 30 weeks, usually delivered by teaching assistants. Teaching assistants are randomised to one of two groups within each school: 1. Time equivalent 2. Catch Up Numeracy Six pupils within each school are randomly allocated to one of three groups: 1. Time equivalent 2. Catch Up Numeracy 3. Control The randomisation results in 100 pupils in each of the three groups.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure	Progress made in the Basic Number Screening Test
Secondary outcome measures	1. Subgroup analysis will be carried out on pupils' gender and eligibility for free school meals (fsm) 2. Pre- and post-test scores on the Salford Sentence Reading Test and the Non-Reading Intelligence Tests 1-3 All pre tests were administered following the training of the Teaching Assistants. This took place between September and November 2012. The post testing took place following completion of the 30-week programme between June and July 2013.
Overall study start date	01/10/2012
Completion date	30/06/2013

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Child
Sex	Both
Target number of participants	50 schools, 300 pupils
Key inclusion criteria	Pupils in years 4, 5 and 6 who are struggling with arithmetic
Key exclusion criteria	Parental opt-out
Date of first enrolment	01/10/2012
Date of final enrolment	30/06/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

England
United Kingdom

Study participating centre

The Mere

Slough
SL1 2DQ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

The Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Charity

9th Floor
Millbank Tower
21-24 Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
United Kingdom

Phone	+44 (0)20 7802 1676
Email	info@eefoundation.org.uk
Website	http://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/
"ROR"	https://ror.org/03bhd6288

Funders

Funder type

Charity

The Education Endowment Fund (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination plan	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Funder report results	results	01/02/2014		No	No

Editorial Notes

15/03/2017: Publication reference added.