Even at such a young age, the gap between those who are confident in maths - and those who are not – is shocking. Children who achieve level 4 or more in their SATs are 80 per cent more likely to gain a level C or higher at GCSE, and over the course of their lifetime, will earn an average of £150,000 more than their maths challenged peers.

To try to close the gap, primary school teachers are looking for new ways to improve all children’s maths ability and, in turn, their success in life – a vital shift, according to Richard Marett, CEO of www.whizz.com, the, the UK’s leading provider of online maths tutoring services. “Research suggests that children actually make their own internal assessment on whether they are good at maths by the age of nine,” says Marett.

The key to improving grades and test scores is to introducing introduce more personalised learning, according to the government. Personalised learning has been the focus of education directives since 2005, and with a further £1.6 billion being committed from 2008 – 2011, this is set to continue.

So far, the main mechanism for personalised tutoring is has been one-to-one tuition. The government aims to provide more than 300,000 students with one-to-one tutoring at KS2 and 3 in basic subjects, including maths and English, by 2011. Each child will get 10 hours of one-to-one tutoring, and this program was piloted last year in 10 Local Authorities with the view to 30,000 students benefiting.

But the one-to-one tutoring plan is not without its flaws is not foolproof. A recent Pricewaterhouse Coopers study has highlighted areas of significant concern with this study the pilot scheme, including challenges in recruiting tutors and questions over the scheme’s value for money. So, what’s the alternative?

 This year’s British Education Training and Technology (BETT) show focused on personalised learning and how ICT could be a valuable and cost-effective solution.

Products such as Maths-Whizz Tutoring Plus for Schools, yTeach and Letts KS2 Revision and Test Practice were all launched at the show, which is the world’s largest educational technology event.

The new and exciting ICT opportunities, if exploited well, can help to achieve the government’s vision for personalised learning, or at least create the real possibility of standards of education rising.

Using some of the innovative and revolutionary resources from BETT could create an overall opportunity to deliver personalised learning whilst reducing the burden on teachers, yet allowing them to retain control.

For example, Maths-Whizz Tutoring Plus for Schools is a personalised online maths tutor that provides students with engaging new ways of learning. It uses award- winning content, with and interactive animations to teach maths concepts and challenging questions to test them.

This teaching method simulates the behaviour of a private tutor. This proven teaching method is geared to the student’s individual ability level, working to boost a student’s their confidence and ability in key topics with lessons geared to the student’s individual level and enabling them to grow at their own pace. Schools have been using the service to boost low-achievers and stretch gifted and talented students.

Aligned to the UK National Curriculum of for maths and covering every learning objective from Foundation to Year 8, Maths-Whizz Tutoring Plus for Schools is accessible anytime, anywhere. Students have been using it in school, at after school clubs and also at home. The service also meets all the new government targets for primary schools including providing personalised learning, live and encouraging parental reporting and engagement with live student reports, building strong links between home and school and allowing universal access to learning.

Teachers can log in, get live individual and class reports to monitor the progress of students and get involved in their learning. “These products comes at a time when government directives for schools are increasingly targeting personalised learning for students, live parent reporting, parental involvement and improved school-home links in terms of education,” says Marett.

Research has proven that if used properly, personalised learning resources significantly increase performance, confidence and understanding in maths for children.

Whilst the assessment of pupils’ numerical skills is important, it is also crucial that the education system delivers and engages students in maths in new ways. With the appropriate application of modern technology and innovative techniques, there is an opportunity to improve students’ learning in a cost-effective and practical way.

www.whizz.com