The Maths offer is commissioned by Professional Development Leicester (PDL). As this initiative is funded via de-delegation, all opportunities are offered at a free, or subsidised cost for Leicester City maintained primary schools. Non-maintained city schools and Leicestershire schools are very welcome to participate, but a full charge will apply. Maintained Leicestershire schools can use their allocated £500 funding from the LA towards these opportunities.
How to book:
Individual booking links for each training opportunity can be found within the course information below. Please contact beth.dixon@sdsa.net if you have any queries.
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £270 per delegate from non-maintained city schools and all Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead: Vicki Giffard
No. of session(s): 3 x half day sessions
Target Audience: Current Maths Leads, aspirant maths leaders and members of SLT
Overview
The Primary Maths Network meetings bring together colleagues from across the city together to network and find out about all of the available local CPD opportunities and national updates.
Meeting dates:
Autumn Term: Thursday 29th October 2026, 9am - 12pm, at SDSA
Spring Term: Thursday 25th February 2027, 9am - 12pm, at SDSA
Summer Term: Monday 24th May 2027, 9am - 12pm, at SDSA
Cost: Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £270 per delegate from non-maintained city schools and all Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead: Ali Rouse
No. of session(s): 3 x half day sessions
Target Audience: Year 6 teachers (particularly those new to the year group) and Maths Leads. May also be relevant to Year 5 teachers.
Overview:
Sometimes, it is not the mathematics itself that presents the greatest challenge for students, but their ability to understand a question and break it down to identify the knowledge and skills required to solve it. These three half day sessions will explore effective strategies for breaking down problems, making the underlying mathematical content explicit, and identifying the steps needed for success. Students will develop the skills to reason their way through a range of questions with greater confidence and independence.
This course will aim to:
- Explore how we can support all students to access and engage with a variety of problems
- Consider how the use of representations can deepen understanding and reveal the underlying structure of the mathematics
- Recognise how discussion around word problems can support the development of problem-solving skills more broadly
Session dates:
Session 1: Wednesday 14th October 2026, 1pm - 4pm, at SDSA
Session 2: Friday 20th November 2026, 1pm - 4pm, at SDSA
Session 3: Friday 4th December 2026, 1pm - 4pm, at SDSA
Cost: Free to attend for Leicester City maintained schools. £180 per delegate from non-maintained city schools and all Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead: Vanessa Brown
No. of session(s): 2 x half day sessions
Target Audience: KS1 and KS2 teachers (experienced or ECTs). Particularly relevant to schools seeking to strengthen consistency, inclusion and deep mathematical reasoning across classrooms.
Overview:
High‑quality mathematics teaching rests on two complementary elements:
- Manipulatives that make mathematical structures visible, accessible and memorable.
- Talk that enables learners to articulate, justify and refine their thinking.
Together, these approaches build confident, independent mathematicians who understand the why, not just the what. This professional development supports teachers to unite concrete resources with structured dialogue so pupils can see the mathematics and say the mathematics — securing deep, transferable understanding.
What the Session Covers:
- How manipulatives reveal mathematical structure and support CPA progression.
- Practical strategies for purposeful selection and consistent modelling.
- Talk routines that deepen reasoning and develop precise mathematical language.
- Ways to reduce cognitive load and strengthen inclusion for SEND and EAL learners.
- Classroom activities that combine hands‑on exploration with structured dialogue.
Session dates:
Session 1: Tuesday 24th November 2026, 9am - 12pm, at SDSA
Session 2: Tuesday 2nd March 2027, 9am - 12pm, at SDSA
Cost: Free to attend for Leicester City maintained schools. £180 per delegate from non-maintained city schools and all Leicestershire schools.
Course Lead: Vanessa Brown
No. of session(s): 2 x half day sessions
Target Audience: KS1 and KS2 teachers (experienced or ECTs)
Overview:
What do you do with the assessment data you have in your classroom?
Assessment in primary mathematics is not simply about comparing pupils against local or national benchmarks. Its real power lies in understanding what children know while there is still time to act. Effective assessment is a continuous cycle of noticing what pupils do, diagnosing the thinking that sits beneath their responses, and responding in ways that deepen understanding rather than just correcting answers.
This session explores a Notice → Diagnose → Respond approach to in‑the‑moment assessment. Participants will explore how to spot emerging misconceptions, interpret the underlying mathematical ideas, and take targeted action that moves learning forward.
Teachers are encouraged to bring:
- recent assessment data for their class
- copies of pupils’ assessments or work samples
These will be used to develop an action plan tailored to their own class, ready to implement back in the classroom straight away.
Vanessa Brown of Inspiring Maths Education is offering 2 half‑day session(s) designed to strengthen teachers’ expertise in:
- using in‑the‑moment assessment to adapt teaching
- unpicking misconceptions with precision
- supporting deeper and more secure mathematical understanding
Session dates:
Session 1: Tuesday 8th December 2026, 9am - 12pm, at SDSA
Session 2: Wednesday 21st April 2027, 9am - 12pm, at SDSA