We’re writing this on what would have been, for most schools, the last day of the spring term and the start of the Easter holidays. With lengthening days and rising temperatures, most teachers and pupils would have been looking forward to time outdoors, trips away and well-earned relaxation before the arrival of the summer term.

But, as we all know, we’re all in the middle of a wholly different and unprecedented situation.

That explains why, in recent weeks, we’ve paused the part of our role that involves drawing your attention to various different ways of engaging in maths-specific professional development. And as we write, it’s not in any way clear when it’ll feel right to start that again.

During this period, we’ve looked on with admiration at how you, the teachers—many of whom are also parents—have gone the extra mile and continued to fulfil your teaching and pastoral roles as well as is possible at a distance.

Generosity of spirit has been everywhere in the maths education community—just like across the entire country.

At the NCETM we’ve started to make a small contribution to this wider effort by offering support to parents in this new situation. We’ll keep adding to this area of our website for as long as necessary, and also use our professional development expertise to offer some help to teachers.

For now though, whatever the ‘school holidays’ hold for you, please accept our best wishes. We’ll be in contact again in a few weeks.

From everyone at the NCETM.

3 April 2020