STAFF at an infants school on Teesside hope they have figured out how to help parents and children enjoy doing maths at home.

The school's maths coordinator, Jennifer Powell, launched a games trolley, complete with 60 different activities, at Teesville Infants School in The Avenue, Eston, yesterday.

The idea, aimed at the school's reception class, is for mothers and fathers to choose a game to play at home with their five-year-olds.

Mrs Powell said: "We want to encourage parents to come in and have a look at what's on offer. Hopefully, they will find it as much fun as their children."

The resources, including counting games, matching games, colour coordination exercises and shape sorting, have been jointly funded by the Cleveland Community Foundation Fund, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and the parents.

It is hoped that the scheme will help generate more interest in maths in younger children.

Carole Lamb, headteacher at the school, said: "As a school we try to involve parents in everything we do. At the moment, the children take home books to read with their mums and dads, and we want to expand that.

"There is a big push in schools at the moment to have a partnership with parents, and this is an important part of that. It also offers parents the chance to spend some time playing games with their children.

"Traditionally, maths is one of those lessons that pupils tend to dislike, so, if we start early enough, we may be able to offer a more positive approach to maths, which children can see as being a fun activity, as well as a serious one.

"It is important that children investigate and explore more about maths."

The first parents to try out the scheme arrived at the school yesterday to pick up their games.