Plain English Summary
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
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Mr Simon Rutt
ORCID ID
Contact details
The Mere
Upton park
Slough
SL1 2DQ
United Kingdom
01753 637396
s.rutt@nfer.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
EFCU
Study information
Scientific title
Evaluation of the Catch Up Numeracy programme: a randomised trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
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
National Foundation for Educational Research Code of Prcatice Committee
Study design
Three armed randomised trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a participant information sheet
Condition
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
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
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 trial start date
01/10/2012
Overall trial end date
30/06/2013
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Pupils in years 4, 5 and 6 who are struggling with arithmetic
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
50 schools, 300 pupils
Participant exclusion criteria
Parental opt-out
Recruitment start date
01/10/2012
Recruitment end date
30/06/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
The Mere
Slough
SL1 2DQ
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
The Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Sponsor details
9th Floor
Millbank Tower
21-24 Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7802 1676
info@eefoundation.org.uk
Sponsor type
Charity
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
The Education Endowment Fund (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2014 results in https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/EFCU01/EFCU01.pdf