Understanding Dyscalculia: Identification, Assessment and Effective Teaching Strategies

A professional development course for Mathematics Teachers, Learning Support Teachers and SENCOs

Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty that affects the acquisition and understanding of mathematical skills. It can have a significant impact on students’ confidence, academic progress and everyday experiences of mathematics. However, with early identification, appropriate assessment and evidence-based teaching strategies, students with dyscalculia can develop their mathematical understanding and reach their full potential.

This training is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and practical tools needed to understand dyscalculia, recognise its indicators in the classroom and implement effective teaching interventions that support students with mathematical learning difficulties.

What will the course cover?

The course will explore the nature of dyscalculia and specific learning difficulties in mathematics, including their definition, prevalence and co-occurrence with other neurodivergent conditions. Participants will examine how these conditions can influence mathematical learning and why some students experience persistent difficulties despite receiving classroom instruction.

Particular attention will be given to maths anxiety, exploring how emotional factors can affect students’ engagement, confidence and performance in mathematics. Educators will also learn to recognise common classroom indicators of dyscalculia and understand the importance of distinguishing between general mathematical difficulties and more specific learning needs.

The course will introduce a step-by-step guide to the mathematics assessment process, helping participants understand how to identify concerns, gather relevant evidence and determine when further assessment or specialist support may be appropriate.

Participants will also explore why mathematics can be particularly challenging to learn, including the cumulative nature of mathematical knowledge and the concept of the “Jenga effect”: when foundational skills are not securely established, gaps in understanding can affect the learning of increasingly complex concepts.

Finally, the course will focus on what an effective teaching intervention should look like, introducing practical, structured and targeted strategies to support mathematical development.

Who is the course for?

This course is intended for professionals working with students who experience difficulties in mathematics, particularly:

Mathematics Teachers who want to recognise learning difficulties and adapt their teaching to meet diverse student needs.
Learning Support Professionals who provide targeted interventions and individualised support for students with specific learning difficulties.
SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators)who oversee the identification of learning needs, coordinate support and collaborate with teachers and families.

No specialist knowledge of dyscalculia is required, making the course suitable for educators who wish to develop their understanding as well as those seeking to strengthen their existing practice.

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What will participants learn?

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Understand dyscalculia and distinguish it from other mathematical learning difficulties.
Recognise its prevalence and understand its possible co-occurrence with other neurodivergent conditions.
Identify the impact of maths anxiety on students’ learning, confidence and participation.
Recognise potential indicators of dyscalculia in the classroom and understand the steps involved in the assessment process.
Understand why mathematical learning difficulties can persist and how gaps in foundational knowledge affect further progress.
Identify the key features of effective, structured teaching interventions.
Apply practical strategies to support the development of number sense and understanding of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and place value.
Explore approaches for teaching more advanced mathematical concepts while addressing gaps in foundational knowledge.
Make more informed decisions about classroom adaptations, targeted support and collaboration with other professionals.

A practical approach to inclusive mathematics teaching

The course combines an understanding of dyscalculia with practical teaching approaches that can be applied in everyday educational settings. Its overall aim is to help educators move beyond simply identifying students’ difficulties and towards understanding the reasons behind them, responding effectively to their individual needs and creating more accessible and positive experiences of mathematics.

By the end of the training, participants will have a stronger foundation for recognising mathematical learning difficulties and implementing supportive, targeted strategies to help students build understanding, confidence and independence in mathematics.