Early Years Maths

Oct 23, 2023

Maths Resources for Teaching 4 to 5 Year Olds

The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) had published a range of resources to support early years provision for children aged 4 to 5 years.

This includes links to video resources, curriculum materials and a podcast.

Cardinality and Counting – Understanding that the cardinal value of a number refers to the quantity, or ‘howmanyness’ of things it represents.
Comparison – Understanding that comparing numbers involves knowing which numbers are worth more or less than each other.
Composition – Understanding that one number can be made up from (composed from) two or more smaller numbers.
Pattern – Looking for and finding patterns helps children notice and understand mathematical relationships.
Shape and Space – Understanding what happens when shapes move, or combine with other shapes, helps develop wider mathematical thinking.
Measures – Comparing different aspects such as length, weight and volume, as a preliminary to using units to compare later.

The NCETM also have an early years podcast episode sharing a discussion on how early years children develop their mathematical thinking.