Early Numeracy Research Project (ENRP)
The Early Numeracy Research Project (ENRP) was a three-year (1999-2001) Prep to Year 2 research project. This project involved 35 trial schools, 28 schools representative of government primary schools across the State (including one special school), four CEO schools and three AISV schools. They were involved in developing a comprehensive approach to mathematics that brings together a set of design elements identified by Hill and Crévola in the Early Literacy Research Project.
Aims of the ENRP
The stated aims of the project were:
- to assist schools to implement the design elements as part of the school's mathematics program
- to challenge teachers to explore their beliefs and understandings about how children develop their understanding of mathematics, and how this can be supported through the teaching program
- to evaluate the effect of the design elements and the professional development program on student numeracy outcomes.
The ENRP included:
- development of a framework of early mathematics learning in Number, Measurement and Space
- development of an assessment instrument to use twice yearly with Prep to Year 2 students in the trial and reference schools
- ongoing monitoring of student achievement throughout the three years of the project
- delivery of intensive teacher professional development for the Early Years Numeracy Coordinator and the Prep to Year 2 teaching team in the trial schools, focusing on the key design elements
- reflection on classroom implementation including regular school, regional and Statewide meetings of the early years professional learning teams in trial schools throughout the project
- case studies to identify factors that lead to highly significant and sustained improvement in student outcomes in early mathematics.
Project team
The research was undertaken by staff from Australian Catholic University and Monash University. The project team consisted of:
- Doug Clarke, Jill Cheeseman, Ann Gervasoni, Donna Gronn, Marj Horne, Andrea McDonough, Pam Montgomery, and Anne Roche from the Australian Catholic University
- Peter Sullivan from La Trobe University
- Barbara Clarke and Glenn Rowley from Monash University.