We are a family-run business supporting educators and families to use this award-winning and effective programme.

How did we come to this?

In 2004 the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association approached me to run a trial of the Numicon programme. They knew that was a teacher with considerable experience here in NZ and USA. A New Zealand family in the UK had been using this programme and wanted other NZ'ers to experience the success they had with their daughter. They donated 16 sets to use on a loan basis.  (These sets can be borrowed from the NZDSA for one year.  Many families and schools take up this offer every year. www.nzdsa.org.nz)

Initally I was not too keen to do this.  My children were young, we had recently moved. I could see the potential for a long term involvement. My wonderful husband though believed in me and could see how this new venture could be an enrichment to me and to many other families. He was right!  It was one of those 'God decisions'.

We have discovered that even though this programme was written for all children- normal developing children, it is also a wonderful tool for children with learning difficulties. Both of our girls have learning issues, but have made the most of their learning with Numicon.  One daughter is gifted with dyslexia and the other has Down syndrome. They are visual learners, as are many of us- we need to see what someone is talking about to really understand best.This programme continues to marvel me- I know of no other programme that reaches all children- regardless of their ability, in demonstrating number and the understanding of mathematics.

I had the joy and privilege of homeschooling for four years.  During that time, I discovered many families in the Homeschooling community work with children with learning difficulties and they do it so well. Many of my friends introduced me to innovative programmes activities and resources that have enriched our experience of mathematics. Maths education has to have a reason- that of equipping children to use it well in their community.  The lessons then must be 'living math' reaching into the purpose of learning maths and giving children a sense of value in their learning.

We have discovered patterns all around us. By exploring the museums, art galleries, nature reserves, different cultures and the university, we have found some wonderful principles of maths through history taking us into the future.

Mathematics is the 'language of all creation' (Paul Hawkins), a means of describing it and working with it.

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Today, we import this programme from the UK where it is used in a third of their schools and many other countries around the world. The Down syndrome community has taken this programme to nearly every country in the world. We want to make is easily available to you.  The products are organised in such a way as to make it accessible to everyone.  It is an investment for a lifetime and has use in a family for many years.

All our orders are couriered to you because we know that once you order, you are very keen to begin using it!  When you place your order, we endeavour to process it within 5 days. NZ customers should allow 2 days for freight.  If there is a delay, we will let you know.

You are welcome to ask for a kit to view provided it is returned in a saleable condition within 30 days. Loan materials are available for the short term.

We also provide training and train others to also support you.

There is no 'magic in the plastic', but training does mean that you gain more from this programme; it's a hand-up to get started with confidence.

We invite you to join us to make a 'clear image for maths' in your child's experience!

 

Our Consultants

Margi Leech Dip Teaching, Higher Diploma 

Margi has been a clasroom teacher in New Zealand and internationally from New Entrants to secondary with a specialist interest in Music.  Margi was part of the team writing Musikit back in the 1970-80's.  She has been a choir and musical festival conductor and lead musical teams into competitions and comminuty events. Her leadership in Girls Brigade and other community activites brought her into a wider understanding of working with people.  It is often said that musuc and maths go together!

Margi has always had a passion for teaching maths well to all children and Numicon enables her to spread that passion even further. She is a member of the New Zealand Down Syndrome Association Eductional Advisory Group and presents courses on successfully teaching children with Down syndrome and dyslexia through NZ.

Jo Howat, Cert. Ed (Uni. Rhodesia),Dip. Spld (Hornsby, UK) B.Ed (Uni Vic)

Jo is married and has a son who is a Mechanical Engineer and a daughter who is a Speech Pathologist.

Jo has over thirty years of teaching experience in the primary school setting, both in New Zealand and Zimbabwe.  In 1996, she completed her training in teaching children with dyslexia.  This was the beginning of her learning journey to help children with learning difficulties.  Whilst in Zimbabwe, she started a small satellite school for children with learning difficulties.

Jo currently teaches children with special needs in a primary school, where she has found Numicon to be invaluable in teaching maths.  Jo also tutors children in both maths and literacy.

Jo finds teaching dyslexic children stimulating, enjoying their diverse thinking and individual challenges they bring.   She is passionate about teaching children according to their individual learning styles and thrives on adapting her teaching style to ensure learning happens in a constructive, positive environment, where children develop confidence to face the challenges ahead of them. The multi – sensory Numicon Programme lends itself to reaching all children’s needs.

Amanda A'Court

Amanda is married to Richard, lives on North Shore, and they have two children Juliette 11yrs and William 9yrs.

Inspired by her children, who are passionate about their education and constantly need to be challenged, Amanda is keen to find ways to enable all children to love learning, especially Maths. She is excited by the potential she sees with Numicon.

Amanda is a highly experienced practitioner with a history over twenty five years within Occupational Therapy, Social Work & Foster Care, Education & Training. She has a Diploma in Social Work & Post Graduate Advanced Diploma in Practice Teaching

Her special interest is with children and young people with special needs and learning diffculties, including gifted children.

Her experience also includes: creating funding opportunities, research, development, project management, and enabling community groups to realise their potential.

Cath Reid, Dip Tchg, B.Ed

Cath has been married for 15yrs to Murray (a soldier and electrician) and has three children. They live on a lifestyle block in Palmerston North with a menagerie of animals and are always working towards a more self-sufficient and healthy life-style.

Their eldest son Dylan is 15 and is an accelerate Student at Secondary School, their daughter, Jessica is 13, is about to begin her secondary schooling, and their third, Ben, is 9 ,has Down Syndrome and is in Yr 4 at school. Ben’s arrival opened a door to a world that Cath and the family had never before been privy to. Special needs became an integral part of their lives.

Apart from feeding animals, being the family taxi-driver, cook and mentor!!, Cath currently teaches part-time at a local country school doing Maths and planning remedial programmes for those who have various learning difficulties with Maths. She has previously taught Maths at secondary school, been a classroom teacher at intermediate level and has been an Education Officer in the NZ Army,

Cath’s drive in teaching stems from a passion for wanting to provide exciting learning programmes, opportunities and support for all learners, but particularly for those children with special needs. She believes that children should be provided with learning opportunities that enable them to build self-esteem, self-confidence, meaningful friendships and ultimately independence. She is always looking for ways to provide an extra spark to her teaching programmes.

She became familiar with the Numicon programme when Ben was just 18months old and has used it successfully with him over the years, and more recently with other children with learning difficulties at her school. Numicon has been a key teaching and learning tool that has opened the doorway and switched on the light for learners who have been having problems progressing successfully within the current system. Maths has become exciting for them again because of Numicon and she is keen to share her experiences and the programme with others, so their learners can be successful too! 

Jay Mackenzie

 Jay is a Canadian who completed his Graduate Diploma of Teaching Mathematics at Canterbury University.

 He and his wife moved to Matamata in 2009 with their young family. They have three beautiful and very active children ages 5, 3 and 1 years old. 

Jay is currently the teacher in charge of Numeracy at Matamata College. He is a dedicated and inspiring teacher of Mathematics who is passionate about Numeracy.  He works every day to change people’s perspective of Mathematics. Students achieve higher in Mathematics when they understand Number. Numicon is a fantastic programme that quickly and easily builds true understanding of number, an understanding that far too many students lack when they attempt NCEA assessments and ultimately that lack of number understanding prevents college students from achieving.

 

Suzanne Mudge, Dip Teaching

Suzanne has been a classroom teacher in many settings from early childhood through to secondary, intenationally as well as holding leadership and managerial positions in other vocations.  Presently she is working with students with special needs at a mainstream school in Auckland.

Suzanne sees the wonderful benefits of Numicon to her students and wants to enthusiastically pass them onto others.  She brings a wealth of experience in education to our team.