Over 8,000 primary schools have already taken part in the Mastering Number Programme, run by Maths Hubs across England and coordinated by the NCETM.

The programme aims to strengthen the understanding of number, and fluency with number facts, among children in Reception and Years 1 and 2. It lasts a year initially, with schools remaining in a professional learning community with other local schools in subsequent years.

Teachers whose schools have already taken part in the programme have noted the impact it has had on their pupils:

There has been a noticeable and marked improvement in the speed and accuracy of children’s subitising skills and knowledge of number bonds.

Children are talking more about the relationships between numbers and using this to solve problems more confidently.

Thank you for high quality training and resources.

My lower confidence children are able to recognise patterns and subitise.

In these two-minute videos, you can hear from a Year 2 teacher and a Reception teacher discussing the impact of the programme on their pupils.

Mastering Number is wholly consistent with and complementary to the Primary Teaching for Mastery Programme, which has been running since 2016. In 2024/25, priority for places on their programme will be given to schools that have not yet engaged with their local Maths Hub.

Find out more, with details of how to apply, on the Mastering Number webpage. The deadline for applications is 5pm on 22 March.