Early Mathematics

Mathematics (maths) is an important part of learning for all children in the early years and receiving a good grounding in maths is an essential life skill. As well as numeracy, it helps skills such as problem solving, understanding and using shapes and measure and developing their own spatial awareness. It helps them to recognise, create and describe patterns, which is essential for early problem solving skills.
Introducing maths to children from an early age helps to develop their understanding of all elements of problem solving and reasoning in a broad range of contexts. Practitioners need to be able to provide opportunities for children to practice their developing skills and knowledge so they improve their competence and confidence in using them.All children can be successful with maths provided they are given the opportunities to understand it in a way that makes sense to them. Ensuring children are engaged, motivated and thinking critically for themselves is vital for mathematics.
The aim of this self-study pack is to give you the knowledge to be able to support children’s early mathematical development and to be able to critically discuss the opportunities available for mathematics for children, from birth and consider the importance of laying these foundations upon success in later life.