Martin Hughes has been Professor of Education at the University of Bristol since 1999. His main research interests are in children's learning, especially of mathematics, and the role of parents in their children's education. His books include Young Children Learning (1984), Children and Number (1986), Parents and their Children's Schools (1994) and Teaching and Learning in Changing Times (1996). Charles Desforges was a school teacher for ten years before entering educational research. He has been Professor of Education at the University of Exeter since 1987 and is currently Director of the ESRC research programme on Teaching and Learning. His main research interest is in classroom learning in the primary school. His books include The Quality of Pupil Learning Experiences (1984), Testing and Assessment (1989), Understanding the Mathematics Teacher (1987) and Early Childhood Education (1989). Christine Mitchell worked as an early years teacher and primary mathematics co-ordinator before becoming Lecturer in Primary Mathematics at the University of Exeter in 1990. She has provided consultancy in assessment and management as well as in primary mathematics, and developed formative assessment approaches with practising teachers. Her books include Effective Teacher Assessment (1995) and Teaching Mathematics at Key Stage One (1998).