This section describes a variety of products and services offered by the Dyscalculia Information Centre for Teachers.

The on-line Dyscalculia Test

You can enter a pupil or student for the on-line Dyscalculia Test by

  • buying on-line from our on-line shop
  • paying by cheque before the test,
  • or by supplying by post or email a school order number.

Our phone number is 01604 880 927; our email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and our address is 9 Home farm Close, Great Oakley, Northants, NN18 8HQ

In each case you will be sent a link to enable you to access the test on-line.

Please note that with all orders you must provide an email address so that we can direct you to the link that gives access to the test.


Other dyscalculia resources

 

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY

 

BOOKS FOR USE WITH PUPILS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE DYSCALCULIA

  • Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division:Schools' Edition - copiable resource of activities to teach the four basic functions to children
  • Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages - following on from "Practical Activities" this book assumes that the student has mastered adding, subtraction, multiplication and division.
  • Dyscalculia activities 3: Time and timetables - book of activities for pupils and students who have difficulty telling the time, following the sequence of days, weeks, months, seasons, etc.
  • Dyscalculia Practice Activities: book of activities ranging from more or less to times tables, from division to the properties of shapes, and finally from fractions to percentages.

 

You can order any of these resources

  • for immediate download from our on-line shop
  • with a school order number by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • by phone to 01604 880 927 again with a school order number or credit card
  • with a cheque by post to Schools.co.uk, 9 Home farm Close, Great Oakley, Northants, NN18 8HQ.  Please make cheques payable to Mandy Tobin Homes Ltd

 

 

 

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty - an unexpected inability to handle one or more aspects of maths. It has for many years been overshadowed by dyslexia, and yet the inability to handle basic mathematical issues can be just as big a problem for those who suffer from it, as is dyslexia.

Although some children with dyslexia also have great difficulties learning maths, this is not always the case. Research suggests that around 25% of dyslexic children are actually above average in their ability at maths. This suggests that there are different factors at work in dyscalculia from those causing or exacerbating cases of dyslexia.

Understanding Dyscalculia: An Introduction for Schools examines the five main causes of dyscalculia and sets out the methods of working available which can help pupils overcome their dyscalculic problems. The book contains short sections which can be photocopied to give out to other members of staff in school, to worried parents, and to governors, so that everyone can share in the awareness of what dyscalculia is, and how it can be tackled.

Above all the book shows that once we understand and accept the causes of dyscalculia we can adopt appropriate methods of teaching to overcome the problem. Research suggests that most children who gain appropriate help in school can overcome their dyscalculic difficulties and achieve an acceptable grade at GCSE, thus allowing entry into further and higher education.

Order code: T1628 £14.95

Available as a download only.  To see samples pages please click here

 

Methods of teaching maths to pupils and students with suspected dyscalculia

Research in recent years has shown that children with dyscalculia can be taught maths if certain specific points in their understanding of maths are addressed. If this approach can be followed by the adoption of particular methods of teaching by the teacher and methods of learning by the pupils, then these children can readily reach the average standard of the class.

What's more the techniques that are known to work well with dyscalculic pupils also work well with pupils who have an average ability at maths.

The book outlines a series of individual methods of teaching maths, which is followed by a series of methods of learning which will benefit all pupils, irrespective of their levels of mathematical achievement. It also contains information on enhancing pupil memory and pupil ability to handle sequences. The methods can be adapted and used with all age groups. The approaches can be used by special needs teachers in small group or individual sessions, and can also be used within full class lessons.

Methods of teaching maths to pupils and students with suspected dyscalculia also contains information for parents as well as information on how homework can be structured to the maximum benefit of dyscalculic pupils.

Order code: T1630 £14.95

Available as a download only.   To see sample pages please click here

 

 

 Books for use with pupils and students who have dyscalculia


Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division: the Schools' Edition

One in 20 children is believed to have such problems in understanding basic maths that the child can reasonably be called “dyscalculic”.

Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division is the first ever book that can be used by teachers working with individuals or small groups of such children. The book provides a series of activities that will resolve the mathematical “block” that many of these children face, in a series of small group or individual lessons.

By working through these activities children who have fundamental problems in handling the most basic of mathematical concepts will learn how to handle numbers, sequences, addition, multiplication, subtraction and division. The book takes the child from the concept of “higher” and “lower” to division by numbers over 12.

Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division works from the basis that virtually all children who have particular difficulties with mathematics have these problems because they have failed to grasp one or more of the fundamental principles of maths, and it is this that causes their subsequent problems. The book takes the children through these fundamentals using a newly developed multi-sensory approach alongside conventional notation of maths.

It is not anticipated that most children will need to work through the whole book; rather the volume is constructed so that the teacher can direct the pupil to work on specific topics in order to clarify issues previously misunderstood.

The school will need to provide a series of coloured counters (such as those used with games of Ludo or tiddlywinks) and for some of the later work, a set of cards.

Dyscalculia activities 1: addition to division is photocopiable throughout so that, where it is deemed desirable, sections may be copied and handed over to parents so that they can work with the child at home on simple exercises.

Order code: T1654 £14.95

Available as a download only. To see sample pages please click here

 

Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages

Dyscalculic pupils have a significant problem understanding mathematical concepts. These pupils can learn their way around maths if they are taught in a specific multi-sensory manner.

Our volume Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages uses this technique to teach such pupils the concepts of number and the four basic functions of mathematics. It is now used with thousands of children across the UK.

Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages follows on from “Practical Activities” and uses the same multi-sensory techniques that have proved successful in the earlier book. As before the book comes as a photocopiable volume and requires no additional equipment or materials save for a collection of coloured counters.

One of the huge benefits of this approach is that it not only works with children who have the genetic disorder which gives rise to dyscalculia, it also benefits those children who are failing to grasp mathematical concepts because of interrupted schooling, home problems or even a maths aversion which has developed because of early failure. Experience suggests that a short period of using multi-sensory techniques can be enough to overcome such problems and bring the pupil back to the class average.

Dyscalculia activities 2: shapes, fractions, percentages can be used with secondary school pupils either within special needs lessons or at home with co-operative parents. Each activity within the book can be completed within a maximum of ten minutes, thus allowing the teacher or parent to stop the work the moment the child shows signs of maths-aversion, frustration or tiredness.

Order code: T1719  £14.95

Available as a download only.  To see sample pages please click here

 

Dyscalculia activities 3: Time and timetables

Time is the ultimate sequence, and children who master the concept of time usually overcome all their problems with sequencing and also find many concepts in maths much easier to handle. Indeed it is noticeable that many children who have difficulties with maths also have particular difficulties with the concept of time.

Dyscalculia activities 3: Time and timetables contains exercises and activities that are designed to overcome such problems and ensure that children have a full ability to handle all the concepts of time – from the passing of seasons to the use of the 24 hour clock and the reading of timetables.

The book contains a range of straightforward tests which will reveal where the child’s particular problems lie. This is followed by a series of activities covering all aspects of time. These activities can be undertaken in the classroom and can be photocopied and taken home. Indeed those children who are able to do five minutes homework a day on the subject of time will find that their understanding of time develops extremely quickly.

The book is available in photocopiable format which means that the activities can be shared with other staff in your department.

Order code: T1712 £14.95

Available as a download only.  To see sample pages please click here.

 

Dyscalculia Practice Activities

Some dyscalculic pupils and students find that they have complete blocks when it comes to specific areas of maths – such as odds and evens, fractions, division, time, etc.   For such pupils and students the “Practical Activities” series of books is ideal, each dealing with specific areas of mathematical process in a step by step manner.

However some pupils and students will have picked up some basics of maths and will not need this in-depth re-learning of fundamental mathematical activities.

Instead they will benefit from a multi-sensory set of revision activities across a much wider area.

It is for these pupils and students, and of course their teachers, that Dyscalculia Practice Activities has been developed.

The copiable volume consists of 91 separate activities – each of which is divided into a number of parts.  Each activity deals with a different teaching point ranging from more or less to times tables, from division to the properties of shapes, and finally from fractions to percentages.

The materials are also ideal for allowing teachers and their pupils to go back and revise topics recently learned with a set of quick multi-sensory revision activities, all graded so that the pupil is not asked to solve issues that have not recently been revised.

Throughout, the book is written in a way that will allow the teacher or teaching assistant to work either with a single individual or with a small group of pupils or students whose difficulties fall into the same area.

Order code: T1782 £14.95

Available as a download only. To see sample pages please click here.

 

Maths cards and counters

We sell packs of times table cards and blank cards which are suitable for use when working with dyscalculic children. They will be needed when working through the Dyscalculia Activities books.

The pack comprises: multiplication cards, division cards, blank cards and counters.

Times tables covered are from 0 to 10, and 20, and they come in assorted colours. Blank cards come in assorted colours in packs of 144.

The counters come in a bags of 80 counters - 2 each of red, yellow, blue and green.

Delivery will be via Royal Mail and will require a signature.

£29.95 plus £1.95 postage and packing.

You can order these at Maths cards and counters

 

You can order any of these resources

  • At our on-line shop
  • with a school order number by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • by phone to 01604 880 927 again with a school order number or credit card
  • with a cheque by post to Schools.co.uk, 9 Home farm Close, Great Oakley, Northants, NN18 8HQ.  Please make cheques payable to Mandy Tobin Homes Ltd

 

 

 

Breadcrumbs

Contact details

The Dyscalculia Information Centre
9 Home Farm Close
Great Oakley
Northants
NN18 8HQ

Phone: 01536 747 861

Email enquiries Tony@schools.co.uk

Head of Centre

Tony Attwood C.Ed., B.A., M.Phil (Lond), F.Inst.A.M

 

Legal stuff

The Dyscalculia Information Centre is fully owned by Mandy Tobin Homes Ltd, a company registered in England. 

Registration number: 07741652

Registered address: 9 Home Farm Close, Great Oakley, Northants NN18 8HQ.