Evaluation of Counting Collections
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN96349771 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN96349771 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | Nil known |
| Sponsor | Education Endowment Foundation |
| Funder | Education Endowment Foundation |
- Submission date
- 10/07/2023
- Registration date
- 12/07/2023
- Last edited
- 22/07/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Counting Collections is a practical approach that allows pupils to make connections between concepts through structured collaborative counting and recording sessions.
Who can participate?
Mainstream schools with at least 20 pupils aged 4-5 years old in September 2023
What does the study involve?
The weekly sessions are based on a four-part routine, with pupils working in pairs. A typical Counting Collections session follows a teacher-led sequenced structure that encourages and guides children to work in pairs to plan, count and record their approach to counting a set of manipulatives (‘collections’ of everyday objects such as straws, small soft toys, and pinecones). These collections form a counting library in the classroom. There are tools to aid counting (such as boxes, jars and number frames). The manipulatives and tools are provided by the delivery team so that all settings have the same resources available for the activities. A structured routine for counting is taught in four parts: choose, strategise, count, and record. This routine represents one of the core components of the programme. Collection sizes are increased over time alongside teaching of more complex strategies including counting unitised groups.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Pupil number ability could potentially improve. The intervention is delivered in classrooms by regular class teachers and presents no additional risks to pupils.
Where is the study run from?
Counting Collections has been developed by the University of Nottingham (UK). The independent evaluator is Sheffield Hallam University (UK).
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2022 to January 2025
Who is funding the study?
Education Endowment Foundation (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Martin Culliney, m.culliney@shu.ac.uk (UK)
Contact information
Principal investigator
10101 Arundel Building
Sheffield
S1 1AY
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-7329-8675 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)114 2256072 |
| m.culliney@shu.ac.uk |
Scientific
10101 Arundel Building
Sheffield
S1 1AY
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)114 2256072 |
|---|---|
| m.culliney@shu.ac.uk |
Public
10101 Arundel Building
Sheffield
S1 1AY
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)114 2256072 |
|---|---|
| m.culliney@shu.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Two-armed two-level cluster-randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Cluster randomised trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Evaluation of Counting Collections, a two-armed cluster randomised controlled trial of a numeracy intervention for pupils aged 4-5 years |
| Study objectives | Research questions 1. What is the impact of Counting Collections on reception pupil attainment in number as measured by the Sandwell Early Numeracy Test? 2. What is the impact of Counting Collections on disadvantaged reception pupil attainment in number as measured by the Sandwell Early Numeracy Test? |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 12/01/2023, Sheffield Hallam Research Ethics Committee (Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, S1 1WB, United Kingdom; None available; SSH-ResearchEthics@shu.ac.uk), ref: ER50653704 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Mathematics approach to develope children’s number sense |
| Intervention | Counting Collections is a hands-on early mathematics approach to develop children’s number sense (understanding of numbers and quantity). It involves children using containers of objects (manipulatives) to find how many are in the collection. This is a two-armed, two-level cluster randomised controlled trial. The unit of randomisation is the school. There will be two stratifiers: geographical region (North East, East Midlands and South Yorkshire, South West) and use of Mastering Number (yes/no). Schools will be allocated to the intervention or control group using the ‘stratrand’ procedure in Stata 17. Schools are randomly allocated to either the intervention group, which receives the Counting Collections programme, or the control group, which continues teaching numbers to reception pupils (aged 4-5 years old) on a business-as-usual basis. Schools are aware of their allocation during the study. The intervention delivery in schools begins in November 2023. In total, 180 schools have been recruited for the trial. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Number ability measured using the total raw score achieved on the Sandwell Early Numeracy Test B. The baseline measure is Sandwell Early Numeracy Test A. Outcome testing is scheduled for 8-10 months after baseline testing. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
There are no secondary outcome measures |
| Completion date | 31/01/2025 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Learner/student |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 4 Years |
| Upper age limit | 5 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 3600 |
| Total final enrolment | 3600 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Mainstream schools with at least 20 pupils aged 4-5 years old in September 2023 |
| Key exclusion criteria | Does not meet the inclusion criteria |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/03/2023 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/06/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Jubilee Campus
Nottingham
NG8 1BB
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Stored in non-publicly available repository |
| IPD sharing plan | Data will be stored in a non-publicly available repository, the EEF data archive. Schools and pupils will not be identifiable in the data stored there. Researchers can apply to access this data through EEF. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funder report results | 01/07/2025 | 22/07/2025 | No | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol file | version 1.1 | 09/05/2024 | 22/01/2025 | No | No |
| Statistical Analysis Plan | version 1.0 | 24/01/2024 | 22/01/2025 | No | No |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- ISRCTN96349771counting_collections_-_evaluation_protocol v1.1 9May2024.pdf
- Protocol file
- ISRCTN96349771counting_collections_statistical_analysis_plan v1.0 24Jan2024.pdf
- Statistical Analysis Plan
- ISRCTN96349771 counting_collections_evaluation_report_v.1.0.0.pdf
- Funder report results
Editorial Notes
22/07/2025: A funder report was uploaded as an additional file.
22/01/2025: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Uploaded protocol (not peer-reviewed) as an additional file.
2. The statistical analysis plan was uploaded as an additional file.
11/07/2023: Trial's existence confirmed by the Education Endowment Foundation (Sponsor and funder; UK).
