Effectiveness Trial of 1stClass@Number 1
26 June 2025
1st Class@Number 1 is a small group intervention developed by the Every Child Counts (ECC) team at Edge Hill University. It is targeted at Year 2 children who are experiencing moderate difficulties in maths and is designed to help them catch-up with their peers. The intervention is delivered by teaching assistants who are trained by accredited ECC trainers and supported with extensive resources.
This multisite pupil-level randomised controlled effectiveness trial was commissioned by the Education Endowment Foundation and had a focus on pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). 226 schools and 1,797 pupils took part. The primary outcome was maths attainment for Year 2 pupils measured using the Quantitative Reasoning Test (QRT). The implementation and process evaluation gathered pupils’ and teachers' views of the intervention.
Key Findings
- Year 2 children who received 1stClass@Number 1 made the equivalent of two additional months’ progress in maths, on average, compared to control pupils who did not receive the intervention.
- FSM pupils receiving 1stClass@Number 1 made the equivalent of two additional months’ progress in maths, on average, compared to FSM pupils who did not receive the intervention.
- TAs and pupils had positive views of the intervention. TAs perceived the training content, delivery, and materials to be of high quality and reported that they enjoyed delivering the intervention to pupils. Pupils reported enjoying intervention activities and interactive games.
- The key features of 1stClass@Number 1 that are likely to have led to the positive impact on pupils’ attainment include its modular nature with each topic building on previous ones, its manualised nature, high quality training, high quality tutoring with a small-group size and regular session frequency, and the ability to be adapted to pupils’ needs.