Ms Rose Griffiths

National Teaching Fellow 2009 Rose Griffiths is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Leicester. She began her teaching career as a secondary school mathematics teacher, and has also taught in pre-school, primary, special and adult education. Rose's work in teacher education since 1990 has inspired hundreds of student teachers to become confident and effective teachers of mathematics, and has enhanced the practice of experienced teachers in schools throughout the country. Rose's strong record of publication for the mathematics classroom and for children at home has extended over twenty years, with more than 100 titles published, including through Puffin, Heinemann, Oxford University Press and A&C Black. The quality of Roses teaching rests on a good understanding of how children learn, and her research and teaching are closely linked. Her reputation in early years mathematics and low attainment in maths is long-standing. Rose has made a unique contribution to the field of  childhood bereavement. Working with the Childhood Bereavement Network and Leeds Animation Workshop, Rose initiated a much-praised project called 'Not too young to grieve' which provides advice for professionals and for parents and carers about supporting young children who have been bereaved. The DVD and accompanying professional development materials have been used all over the world. The Letterbox Club, for children aged 7 to 11 in foster care, was started by Rose in Leicester in 2003 and has grown year by year, with major funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families in 2007-08. Children are sent a parcel addressed to them personally through the post, once a month for six months at a time, providing them with books and maths games to use at home. Children's enjoyment of the parcels has led to improvements in their reading and arithmetic, and the project has had an important impact on foster carers and lead professionals for looked-after children. In partnership with Booktrust, the national charity known for its successful book-gifting programmes, there are now more than 100 local authorities in the UK involved for 2009, with over 4,500 children getting their first parcels before the school summer holiday!