What is SEAL?

SEAL stands for Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning.

SEAL is an intervention programme that targets pupils who are having difficulties in numeracy and maths. SEAL is becoming increasingly common in primary schools to develop understanding for pupils as they learn new concepts. In SCHS we now make use of SEAL to support pupils who have significant gaps in their knowledge or basic numeracy skills by teaching additional strategies while developing problem solving skills.

SEAL looks at the sophistication of children’s strategies for dealing with numbers and allows teachers to build on existing knowledge/skills.

For example, the child who has no means of working out 9 + 3 other than counting out nine counters, then counting out three counters and then counting all of the counters from 1 to 12, is using a far less sophisticated strategy than a child who can say 9 + 3 is the same as 10 + 2 so I know that the answer is 12.

SEAL ensures that pupil strategies are based on understanding rather than on processes or “tricks” by understanding:

• Place Value and how numbers are made.
• The connection between multiplication and division
• Using known number facts to solve other problems
• Understanding subtraction is the opposite of addition

SEAL is used alongside CVA concepts in SCHS.