Confidence in numbers – Mathnasium

Being confident in maths starts with feeling comfortable and at ease with it. Walk past the centres in Clapham or Wimbledon, or any of the 28 Mathnasiums across the UK for that matter, and witness happy children having fun.

Finalists in the National Tutors Association Awards for evaluating impact, Mathnasium has certainly made its mark since opening its doors on Northcote Road in 2019. Its proprietary curriculum provides a customised maths learning programme where maths simply makes sense.

Instructors work one-on-one with children to understand where they are at with their maths and how they are thinking. They then identify any problems and guide them through the right problem-solving processes.

Unlike many supplementary education providers, every child has a bespoke education plan based on their ability rather than school age and this is where their potential is unlocked. “Our daughter has really struggled with maths in a traditional environment but at Mathnasium she has made incredible progress in the last month and now loves maths!” attests one mother.

The fundamentals of the Mathnasium curriculum are to make sure children are strong in the foundations of maths, building up their number sense first and then gradually working on more complex mathematics using mental, verbal, visual, tactile and written techniques. Once children have mastered critical thinking, their confidence grows exponentially empowering them to solve problems and make decisions logically.

Zoe Jagelman, Education Manager says, “Whilst we are proud of the impact our programme has on students’ maths outcomes, staff and parents delight in seeing the blossoming of children’s confidence as they understand, master and love maths. We love hearing how this confidence spills over into other areas of learning and life.”

Mathnasium provides in-centre and online teaching to children from Year 1 all the way through to GCSEs. Many students come to prepare for 11+ entry exams into leading secondary schools, but others come because they are struggling or even because they love maths and want to be challenged further.

Each child is assessed on their first visit, a programme is devised for them, and parents are regularly updated on their progress. Assessments are free and there is no obligation to sign up.

Mathnasium’s objective is not to replace the education system but to supplement it, and as such it does a great deal of work with schools in the community to support their students. Equally, it provides pick-ups directly from schools to the Mathnasium centres to help working parents.

Mathnasium helps all children be confident with numbers – a life skill that will help them overcome obstacles and barriers throughout their lives – through their fun and vibrant centres, not only creating number proficiency but a lifelong love for maths.