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$4M investment in early maths to help close skills gap & boost innovation

08 February 2016

Thousands more Australian pre-schoolers will be able to access The Smith Family’s proven early maths program, Let’s Count, thanks to today’s $4 million funding announcement by the Commonwealth Government.

Dr Lisa O’Brien, CEO of Australia’s leading children’s education charity, The Smith Family, said: “This is a significant and very welcome investment by the government which will help build the early maths skills of Australian children.

“Over the past five years, nearly 13,000 pre-schoolers from disadvantaged communities have benefitted from our Let’s Count program which has boosted their maths skills and learning dispositions,” Dr O’Brien said.

“Developing a child’s early maths skills is just as important as developing their reading, but there’s tended to be less of a focus on this area.

“Of particular concern to The Smith Family is that one in three children living in our most disadvantaged communities are starting school without basic skills, including numeracy.

“Our aim with Let’s Count is to emphasise maths in the everyday and help children to see maths as relevant, stimulating and fun, which sets them up for future success.”

Having identified a lack of programs in Australia to support the development of maths skills in young children, The Smith Family, together with Professor Bob Perry (Charles Sturt University) and Professor Ann Gervasoni (Monash University) developed Let’s Count.

A four-year partnership with the Origin Foundation enabled the program to grow – to date reaching nearly 13,000 children, almost 7,000 parents and 450 educators in disadvantaged communities nationally.

Let’s Count engages children in activities such as counting, measurement, patterns and spatial awareness, as part of their everyday lives. It includes training, support and learning resources for families and early childhood educators.

A three-year evaluation showed Let’s Count strengthens the maths skills and dispositions of young children as they prepared to start school. It showed the program strengthened the skills and confidence of parents and early educators to support the mathematical development of the children in their care.

Dr O’Brien said: “Today’s funding commitment not only recognises the success of Let’s Count, but is recognition of a successful and innovative partnership between a not-for-profit organisation working with families, educators and its university, philanthropic and corporate partners.

“Now this substantial show of support from the Commonwealth Government, will help us set up more children for long-term success in maths – a discipline that will drive our country’s economy and future success.”

“Maths is a subject area that is critical to everyday life and, ultimately, to Australia’s quest to be a more innovative and competitive nation.”

A copy of the Let’s Count research report is available here: http://tiny.cc/TSF-lets-count-report