Supporting learners with maths difficulties

We will explore how and why dyscalculia is different to a SpLD in maths and how/why other SpLDs (dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, language disorder and autism) can also cause maths difficulties. We will also explore how maths anxiety can be both a contributing factor and/or the result of having difficulty understanding maths. This session will cover:

The new SASC (2025) definition of a SpLD in maths/dyscalculia
Role of working memory, phonological processing, executive functions and numeric processing
Recognising maths anxiety (the four Fs)
Growth zone and ladder models
Language to help change (maths anxiety) fixed mindsets
Providing a dyscalculia friendly maths environment
Power of mistakes and drawing models/pictures to support conceptual understanding

Suitable for: All members – the content is particularly useful for KS2 and older

Provider

Amanda Lynch

Course Leader for BDA Dyscalculia courses

Amanda Lynch

Course Leader for BDA Dyscalculia courses

This session will be delivered by Amanda Lynch – 10 years full-time primary school teacher YR – Y6, and maths lead with 10+ years as a specialist maths tutor for students who find maths difficult (ages 6 – 46), 6+ years as a dyscalculia/maths difficulties assessor and 4 years as professional level tutor on the BDA level 5 online course for dyscalculia. Amanda is now the course leader for all British Dyslexia Association’s dyscalculia courses (levels 2-7). Amanda’s passion is for increasing the understanding of SpLD’s in maths within the teaching profession, and ways of teaching, so that all teachers of maths can better support their students who find maths challenging. This includes the estimated 25% of students who suffer with maths anxiety and the similar number who do not achieve at the expected level in maths in KS2 SATS or in GCSEs.