Birth to 5 Matters Maths
Video with two members of the Birth to 5 Mathematics Working Group, Dr Helen Williams and Dr Andrea Lancaster, explaining how to use the Maths section in the guidance — a very practical resource for educators to build confidence and further develop their practice with Mathematics
Development and Research in Early Maths Education (DREME – TE, Stanford University)
US free website summarising research and teaching approaches, with suggestions for assessing children’s understanding
Early Childhood Maths Group (ECMG)
UK based free website covering all aspects of early years maths which is constantly updated
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
UK based website containing some key aspects and teaching approaches for early maths, with video examples
This free US website contains practical resources, including videos and picture book suggestions
Clements and Sarama’s (USA) learning trajectories (progressions) for different ages and stages, covering all aspects of early maths, with activity examples. This website requires sign-up
The Maths Anxiety Trust is an independent, not for profit organisation with no political affiliations, whose target is to eliminate Maths Anxiety in Britain
National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM)
DfE advice on number, spatial reasoning and pattern, with videos
NRICH, University of Cambridge
Free UK based website hosted by the University of Cambridge with useful articles and activities to support different aspects of early years mathematics
Young Minds Big Maths, Durham University
UK based website with a range of articles linked to the everyday experiences and fascinations of children aged 3 and 4 years old
Child Development: Mathematics.
Online professional development programme covering attitudes to mathematics, number sense, pattern and spatial reasoning (birth to 5 years). Requires creating an account.
Open Mathematics, Open Minds: children’s thinking and mathematics
Article on the Community Playthings website focussing on how to build on children’s own mathematical interests and pretend play
Chartered College article about the principles for early maths pedagogy derived from research, including the need for play alongside adult led activities
Mathematical problem solving in the early years: Developing opportunities, strategies and confidence
Short article about children’s problem solving strategies and how to support them
Using picture books to support mathematical development
How to use picture books in the best ways for maths
Developing mathematical graphics in the early years
Chartered College research review about how to develop children’s understanding of symbols while valuing their own recording (birth to 7 years)
Children’s mathematical graphics: Understanding the key concept
NRICH article about the difference between children recording mathematics and representing their mathematical thinking; with examples
Maths in the EYFS: what are our priorities for our youngest learners?
Webinar identifying priorities from research about the predictive areas of maths and effective pedagogy, with examples
Enjoy and Nourish Young Children’s Amazing Math
Blog about children’s maths from 1 to 6 years with links to videos
Loughborough University webinar focused on the teaching and learning of children 0-8.It explores play and playful learning in relation to early mathematics
Foundations in early years maths
A friendly podcast for parents (and practitioners), summarising what maths is and how to support it at home
Videos from Tandem in partnership with Development and Research in Early Mathematics Education (DREME), Stanford University
A blog about maths anxiety on the DREME-TE website with tips for parents Development and Research in Early Math Education, Stanford University
Family postcards, Early Childhood Maths Group
Downloadable postcards in English plus a number of other community languages exploring the maths potential in everyday activities in and around the home
Blog describing a University of Southampton initiative working with parents to do easily implemented family-based maths activities
2 one-page documents to share with parents listing everyday maths they can do with under 3-4-year-olds to give them the best start in maths
This section includes activities for parents to do at home with their child and explanations of the maths potential within the activities
Educational outcomes following preterm birth. Premature Infants’ Skills in Mathematics (PRISM)
Online training including graphics and a video showing outcomes for very pre-term children in comparison to their full-term peers
The Premature Infants’ Skills in Mathematics (PRISM) studies
This journal article describes the PRISM studies (University of Leicester) and looks at possible interventions to improve maths outcomes for children following very pre-term birth
Short article about the importance of different aspects of subitising and contexts to develop the skills
Short animated video demonstrating what subitising means, with a variety of examples, including fingers
The first part of an article first published in IMPACT journal of the Chartered College of Teachers, 2019
Using manipulatives in the foundations of arithmetic
A Nuffield Foundation funded research project with resources for teachers
Chips assessments ECMG number section
Short videos of children responding to the ‘give 5’ task -do they understand cardinality? (that the last number tells you the number counted so far)
Children’s books about number ECMG number section
Recommended children’s books which can be used to support number learning
Video about simple problem solving that practitioners can engage children in at snack time
A short article about a study of twins: one likes counting, while the other is interested in cardinal numbers
Developing number through tidying up
Short article about using number labels to prompt children to count and “find missing numbers of things”
Counting Collections in the early years
Short article about how to create a ‘counting library’ for children 2-5 years
Webinar summary of research about the development of early counting, including the Counting Collections intervention (recently evaluated by the EEF)
Developing pattern awareness with young children
Short article about why pattern is important, including progression in pattern awareness
Nursery World series about pattern which highlights the importance of music and movement
Nursery World series about pattern which highlights the importance of music and movement
The mathematics of patterns and algebra
Short article from the USA about how identifying the repeating unit in simple patterns underpins later algebra
Developing pattern awareness in the early years
Webinar summarising research and teaching examples for early patterning
Mathematical Moments, Early Childhood Maths Group (ECMG)
Anecdotal observations capturing powerful mathematical moments in early years settings relating to pattern
Nursery World Spatial reasoning series,
Part 1: Using the outdoors to develop this essential skill
Nursery World series explaining different aspects of spatial reasoning, exemplified with case studies from a nursery
Nursery World Spatial reasoning series,
Nursery World series explaining different aspects of spatial reasoning, exemplified with case studies from a nursery
Nursery World Spatial reasoning series,
Part 3: Differences between sliced and whole
Nursery World series explaining different aspects of spatial reasoning, exemplified with case studies from a nursery
Nursery World Spatial reasoning series,
Part 4: Working out how things fit together
Nursery World series explaining different aspects of spatial reasoning, exemplified with case studies from a nursery
What children know and need to learn about shape and spacer
Short article from the USA about shape and space learning
Supporting spatial play in mathematics
Early Education Journal article about spatial play in early years with a link to an accompanying video
Investigating block play at St Paul’s
Blog post about nursery block building, including using books for inspiration, with practitioner strategies and reflections
A downloadable, engaging booklet offering practical, play-based mathematical extensions for children’s ramp play, developed collaboratively with Durham University and Houghton Community Nursery School
Supporting spatial reasoning in the early years
Webinar summary of research and teaching examples for early spatial reasoning
The ECMG Spatial Reasoning Toolkit
This includes guidance and downloadable resources to support practice and provision with 0-7 year olds
Children’s books about shape, space and measures
Children’s books about shape, space and measures
Recommended story books with the potential to develop children’s understanding of different
Alphabet jigsaw, Obstacle course, Builder copier, Knot tying, Water play
Anecdotal observations capturing powerful mathematical moments in early years settings relating to spatial reasoning
Foundations: The value of block play, Community Playthings
Video of children’s constructions with unit blocks, showing different stages
Webpage from the USA explaining the importance of early measurement, including teaching approaches, assessment ideas and videos
Big ideas of measurement, Erikson Early Math Collaborative
Webpage with a wide range of resources from the US including articles, picture books and videos
Measures with babies, Size and capacity, Becoming familiar with measuring tools, The cooking station
Short vignettes describing how understanding of measures can be supported throughout the EYFS
Learning and Teaching Early Math: The Learning Trajectories Approach (3rd ed).
This book has two excellent chapters on the importance and challenges of developing children’s understanding of different measures
Early Years Activities – Measures, NRICH
Practical ideas encouraging mathematical thinking around Time, Weight, Length and area and Capacity
Introducing Measurement in the Early Years | Comparison | Units
Useful, short video from Hamilton about the progression of understanding in different measures
Learning Trajectories website. Please note that this website is free but to get to the correct link you need to be signed in
When asked to give one or two things
Learning Trajectories website (Please note that this website is free but to get to the correct link you need to be signed in)
Numbers are made-up (composed) of smaller numbers
A description of children exploring the composition of numbers in a variety of contexts in a 3-4-year-old classroom
Awareness of shape similarities and differences
A description of an adult recognising an opportunity to support children’s spatial thinking through a present wrapping activity
Explores and adds to simple linear patterns
Recognising children’s understanding of pattern through a fruit kebab making activity
Video of children estimating the number of bottle caps on the table in front of them
Subitising to four and maybe five
Video of child using subitising strategies with smaller numbers and counting with larger ones
Adds one and subtracts one with numbers to 10
Instructions for carrying out an addition / subtraction game with 3-5 year olds
Enjoys tackling problems involving prediction and discussion of comparisons of length
A nursery aged child is involved in making clothes to fit mannequins