Added: 11 November 2016
Ipswich Building Society launches Money Metrics™ Primary – Financial education for primary school children
Ipswich Building Society has launched Money Metrics Primary, its bespoke programme supporting financial education for younger children. The Society will visit primary schools in its heartland area on a series of financial education programmes aimed at helping children understand the concept of money in everyday use.
The Society originally created its ‘Money Day’ financial education programme, aimed at Year 2 primary school children, in 2007. The programme was extended in 2014 as ‘Money Metrics’, a bespoke programme aimed at Year 10 students which has so far resulted in almost 1,500 classroom hours provided by the Society, and participation by 5,000 students.
With the success of Money Metrics the Society has revamped its primary school programme, which has been developed in conjunction with a children’s education consultant and aligned to National Curriculum requirements for personal finance and citizenship. The new Money Metrics Primary is designed to help Year 2 children to recognise coin denominations and matching values and will support their understanding of how we use money to save and pay for things we want to buy.
During a series of pilot sessions at Wells Hall Primary School in Great Cornard, children took part in Money Metrics Primary sessions learning through creative techniques including games, writing their own stories, painting and making a money box to take home. The Society has also created an exclusive ‘Savings Mountain’ song which Society staff perform at each event.
Mr Reynolds, Year 2 teacher at Wells Hall Primary School, commented on the Money Metrics Primary pilot: “The children thoroughly enjoyed the day where they had the chance to think about how we spend money, but more importantly how we can save towards things too. The activities were pitched appropriately and targeted pupils at varying abilities. The money-box making and cartoon strips were excellent ways to engage the pupils which followed on from the teaching led by Ipswich Building Society. The session linked well to learning within the class and complemented pupils’ existing knowledge.”
Paul Winter, Chief Executive of Ipswich Building Society, added: “As a responsible business we care about creating learning opportunities for children in the communities we serve. Our Money Metrics Primary initiative will provide children with the stimulus to learn about good money habits and we’re proud to be volunteering our time.”