Find Out in Five - Building strong foundations in Reception maths

High-quality maths teaching in Reception can have a lasting impact on children's learning. As part of the government's Best Start in Life strategy, the Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics (SKTM) Reception Teachers Programme helps teachers develop the knowledge and confidence to give children the strongest possible foundations in maths.

Giving every child the best possible start has become a major national priority. The government's Best Start in Life strategy recognises the importance of the early years in shaping children's future outcomes, including their success in maths.

Research shows that children's mathematical understanding at age five is a strong predictor of later attainment. At the same time, gaps in attainment between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers can emerge before children even start school. High-quality teaching in Reception therefore has an important role to play in helping children develop the knowledge, understanding and confidence they need for future learning.

The Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics (SKTM)  Reception Teachers Programme has been developed to support teachers in this work. We spoke to Sue Evans, Director for Reception and Early Years at the NCETM, to find out more.

1) What exactly is the SKTM Reception Teachers Programme?

Put simply, it’s a professional development opportunity designed to develop the subject and pedagogical knowledge of Reception teachers. It helps them understand what maths to teach and how to teach it.

The programme consists of the equivalent of five days of professional development over the year. This includes four workshop days led by the local Maths Hub and the equivalent of one day of asynchronous online learning spread across the year. Participants get the chance to come together and learn with other Reception teachers from their region, trying out approaches and reflecting on the impact of changes to their practice.

2) Who is the programme for?

It has been designed specifically for those working with children at this important stage of learning, and it recognises the unique opportunities and challenges of teaching maths in Reception. It’s aimed at Reception teachers, but teaching assistants who work in Reception are welcome to join and attend alongside their Reception teacher colleague. We know that children benefit when all adults working with them have secure mathematical subject knowledge and use consistent approaches to teaching and learning.

Reception teachers are laying the foundations for children's future mathematical learning, but opportunities for maths-specific professional development at this important phase are not always widely available. This SKTM programme has been designed specifically to help address that need. It develops teachers' understanding of mathematical progression in Reception and explores how children learn maths most effectively at this age.

3) Why was the programme created?

Maths Hubs have previously offered two one-year SKTM programmes for Early Years teachers, one focused on number and one focused on spatial reasoning. However, we know from research that thinking or reasoning spatially is not just important for geometry-based learning. It is important across all areas of maths, including number.

This programme takes a more integrated approach to number and spatial reasoning, enabling teachers to more easily see the connections across different areas of the maths curriculum and become upskilled more quickly.

4) What can participants expect?

Those taking part will develop their subject and pedagogical knowledge of Reception maths. They will look at the progression in learning across different areas of maths and consider how to use a teaching for mastery pedagogy in a way that is age appropriate.

The programme also takes into account the unique development of children in Reception. Participants will have the chance to learn how children's developing cognitive skills, such as memory and attention, can impact on learning and how teaching can be adapted when needed.

As with all Maths Hubs programmes, much of the learning takes place back in school. Teachers will try out activities with children, reflect on the impact of their work and share those reflections with colleagues at future workshops. This also provides valuable opportunities to collaborate with teachers from other schools, which we know is both important and enjoyable.

5) Why is this programme important?

The SKTM Reception Teachers Programme is an investment in the teacher. High-quality professional development can build confidence, knowledge and skill, which ultimately improves the quality of teaching that children experience in Reception.

Reception teachers have a unique role. They are laying foundations in maths that future learning will build on. That requires a deep understanding of how mathematical ideas develop, alongside an understanding of how young children learn. 

When that is done well, we can set children up for success throughout school. The impact of effective teaching at this stage can be felt for years to come, making Reception one of the most important phases in children's mathematical development, and their teachers very important people in this.