Starting Maths

by Sheila Ebbutt, Head of Mathematics Consultancy

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• A large part of maths is about numbers, but maths involves more than just numbers. It includes numbers, measuring, statistics and shape and space. At school, children learn about all of these.
• During reception class, children learn specifically about: counting, measuring, shape and space.
• The work in a maths lesson will include lots of different activities.
• Children learn everyday maths words by listening to adults using the words as they do things.
• Young children learn best when they are talking abut numbers in games and rhymes and stories. They use their fingers and count each other and objects. Later, they learn to work out problems in their heads.
• It is important that they are confident about using numbers in different situations - they need to be able to do this in their heads. Later on when they are older, they will write things down.
• Some young children have great difficulty in writing. They can still be good at maths, even though they can't write anything down.
• Doing written sums can confuse many children and put them off maths. Children need to add and take away with things first, and write sums only when they can work out numbers in their heads confidently.
• Talk to your child about maths using everyday language - ask your child what was difficult or easy, and see if you can find or make up a game with the same maths in it.
• Try not to point out the mistakes or say how untidy it is - look for the good things to say and above all don't start testing your child's mats knowledge.

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