A PRESTIGIOUS day-long conference launching Maths Year 2000 in Blackburn with Darwen is due to take place this week at Ewood Park, with the aim of boosting numeracy skills and will include information on our NIE maths resources.

Teachers and representatives of education from the unitary authority have been invited to the home of Blackburn Rovers FC to hear speakers, including a keynote address by Lynn Churchman from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and a presentation by Alan Newland, Educational Director of the Maths Year 2000 project.

Other speakers include Peter Blythe from the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology who will be talking about some of the problems associated with the specific learning difficulties in mathematics and Bob Sawyer, Assistant Director of Stone-on-Trent LEA with ideas on how to make maths fun.

NIE Co-ordinator Rita Shaw will be attending the event, giving information on our NIE real-life maths resources currently available to schools in East Lancashire.

Speaking about the conference, Councillor Bill Taylor, Chair of the Borough's Education and Training Committee said: "I am delighted to be involved in the Maths Year 2000 initiative which complements the work we are already doing in Blackburn with Darwen to improve standards and boost attainment levels."

Pupils in Blackburn with Darwen recorded some of the best results in the country in the recent national Key Stage Two tests in Maths and English and Councillor Taylor praised the hard work of teachers in all of the borough's schools, as well as other partners. All would be playing a part in making Maths 2000 a success.

The conference is expected to be a launch pad for a series of initiatives taking place in many of the Borough's schools throughout the year.

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