Heather Cooke is a lecturer in the Centre for Mathematics Education at The Open University. She is an experienced practitioner and has worked as an advisory teacher for mathematics in Gloucestershire. She has co-authored a number of distance learning packs: ABC of Number (1994), Thinking About Measurement (1998), Exploring Pattern (1998), and Passport to Mathematics (1998). Her particular interest is in helping people who found mathematics difficult at school to improve their knowledge and confidence in the subject.