1. Maths in the Early Years

2. The expected level - number
For children to achieve what is seen to be a good level of development by the end of reception, the children are expected to be able to do the following in number:
Children count reliably with numbers from one to twenty.
Children can place them in order and say which number is one more or one less than any given number.
Using quantities and objects they add and subtract two single-digit numbers and count on or back to find the answer.
Children solve problems including doubling, halving, and sharing.

3. The expected level - shape
For children to achieve what is seen to be a good level of development by the end of reception, the children are expected to be able to do the following in shape:
Children use everyday language to talk about size, weight, capacity , position, distance, time and money to compare quantities and objects and solve problems.
They recognise, create and describe patterns.
They explore characteristics of everyday objects and shapes and use mathematical language to describe them.

4. Exceeding the level of expectation
Children estimate a number of objects and check quantities by counting up to 20.
They solve practical problems that involve combining groups of 2, 5 or 10 or sharing into equal groups.

5. How we support children in school
We teach the children to have a real sense of number.
As well as naming shapes, we focus on their properties.
Our maths is largely practical.
We give children plenty of opportunity to explain and justify the maths that they are doing.
We model the correct vocabulary and encourage the children to use this same language.
We focus on mathematical concepts.

6. How you can support at home
Bedroom
Kitchen
Living Room
Bathroom

7. The Kitchen
Laying the table: setting out the correct amount of plates and cutlery.
Helping with cooking: weighing ingredients, measuring amounts etc.
Putting things away and ensuring that they won’t fall over.
Finding 3D shapes in the cupboards.
Sharing food out to each person.

8. How you can support at home
Bedroom
Kitchen
Living Room
Bathroom

9. The Living Room/Hallway
Look for shapes: cushions, picture frames, television etc.
Estimation: How many people can fit on the sofa? Could more or less people fit on the chair?
Ask the children to pair up shoes.
Can they order scarves according to length?

10. How you can support at home
Bedroom
Kitchen
Living Room
Bathroom

11. The Bathroom
Filling containers of water in the bath and discussing which container holds the most water.
When filling the bath, ask your child: Is the bath full, empty, half full etc.
Look at patterns in bathroom tiles. Are they all the same? Is there a repeating pattern?

12. How you can support at home
Bedroom
Kitchen
Living Room
Bathroom

13. The Bedroom
Sharing out equipment when playing games.
Building a den. What equipment will they need? What will be most useful?
Play lots of games. Use dice and cards to recognise numbers and identify the number that is one more and one less.