Children across the country are set to benefit from a numeracy test developed in the Midlands. The Sandwell Early Numeracy Test, or SENT-R, has been written by staff at the council’s inclusion support service. The test helps teachers and classroom assistants to assess a child’s abilities with numbers. It has proved so successful that it is being used to test the progress of children receiving help through the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Every Child Counts strategy. This gives extra help to Year 2 pupils who have fallen behind. It offers training and support for teachers so they can work with pupils to help improve their numeracy skills. From September, SENT-R will be used to chart the progress of children being helped by the programme and more than 600 SENT-R kits will be distributed to schools across the country.