Maths in the EYFS Welcome!

Introductions Mrs Claire Foulstone – Nursery Teacher Ms Emma Mrozek (Yr 1)– Primary Curriculum Coordinator for Maths

The Curriculum The EYFS curriculum for maths is split into 2 stands. These strands are: Number Shape, Space and Measures

Curriculum Overview - Number The number stand of the curriculum is self explanatory,…its about using, identifying and representing numbers in meaningful contexts.

Curriculum Overview - SSM The shape, space and measures stand of the curriculum is, in nursery mainly focused around shape.

The Importance of Language Much of the maths EYFS curriculum for Nursery and Reception children is heavily reliant on the use of mathematical vocabulary and the ability of children to be able to explain and share their ideas.

Links to Language and Speaking Uses talk to connect ideas, explain what is happening and anticipate what might happen next, recall and relive past experiences. Questions why things happen and gives explanations. Asks e.g. who, what, when, how. Uses vocabulary focused on objects and people that are of particular importance to them. Builds up vocabulary that reflects the breadth of their experiences.

Numicon

What is expected at the beginning of Nursery? Number: Selects a small number of objects from a group when asked, Recites some number names in sequence. Creates and experiments with symbols and marks representing ideas of number. Begins to make comparisons between quantities. Uses some language of quantities, such as ‘more’ and ‘a lot’. Uses some number names and number language spontaneously. Uses some number names accurately in play. Recites numbers in order to 10.

What is expected at the beginning of Nursery? Shape, Space and Measure: Notices simple shapes and patterns in pictures. Beginning to categorise objects according to properties such as shape or size. Begins to use the language of size. Understands some talk about immediate past and future, e.g.' before’, ‘later’ or ‘soon’. Anticipates specific time-based events such as mealtimes or home time

How does this change to the end of Nursery? Number: Beginning to represent numbers using fingers, marks on paper or pictures. Sometimes matches numeral and quantity correctly. Compares two groups of objects, saying when they have the same number. Separates a group of three or four objects in different ways, beginning to recognise that the total is still the same. Shows an interest in numerals in the environment. Shows an interest in representing numbers.

How does this change to the end of Nursery? Shape, Space and Measures: Shows an interest in shape and space by playing with shapes or making arrangements with objects. Shows awareness of similarities of shapes in the environment. Uses positional language. Shows interest in shape by sustained construction activity or by talking about shapes or arrangements. Shows interest in shapes in the environment. Uses shapes appropriately for tasks. Beginning to talk about the shapes of everyday objects, e.g. ‘round’ and ‘tall’.

How can you help? Maths can be built in to any element of everyday life without any need for specific resources. Why not try: Counting the steps up the stairs A number hunt on the way to nursery Setting the table, how many people, how many knives, forks etc Sorting the washing by size, colour etc. Can you cut your toast into squares, triangles?

Your Maths Pack Inside your pack is a number line, whiteboard and pen and 10 unifix cubes. Here are some ideas how you could use them together with your child at home: Pattern making with the cubes Dice games – roll the dice and take away that many cubes, the winner is the person with the least cubes after 2 rolls. This could be adapted to adding cubes on. Counting; how many cubes in your tower, can you line your cubes up along your number line? Writing numbers, can you copy from the number line, which number comes before/after……

What will you see in the classroom? When playing here I can: Examples of shape and number in various contexts. Maths built into lots of activities in all the areas Children using and applying maths in a fun context while they are playing.