Mathematical Development

This area of learning is designed to enable the children to acquire the key skills they will need for mathematical understanding.  Mathematical concepts are in lots of everyday situations.  Mathematical development enables the children to become familiar and comfortable with numbers and to develop mathematical ideas.   They discover ways of solving practical problems, and become aware of shape, space and pattern.

What does it mean?

Using number names and mathematical language during play.

Taking about and recognising numbers.

Counting objects.

Sorting and matching objects and making comparisons.

What does it mean?

Making marks to represent numbers, e.g. using fingers, marks on paper and other media.

Sorting and matching objects.

Talking about position.

What does it mean?

Talking about shape and size and learning about patterns.

Experimenting with length, weight and capacity.

Exploring space and making estimates.

How do we achieve this in the nursery?

The staff provide play opportunities and resources both inside and outside that give children the chance to develop their mathematical skills and concepts. The staff seek opportunities to develop children's mathematical understanding e.g. in the home corner, counting and matching when setting the table. Outside, rolling the cars down a ramp and estimating how far they will travel.

The staff encourage the children to participate in number rhymes and songs.

The staff provide outside opportunities for children to explore space, e.g. climbing in and out of large boxes.

Computer programmes are used to re-inforce learning.

Some More Ways

Staff frequently cook with the children and use this opportunity to develop their mathematical understanding.

Staff set up role-play situations that aid children's mathematical development, e.g. a shop with a till and kitchen scales.

The staff use snack time to further the children's mathematical understanding, e.g. what shape is your biscuit? how many apples are on the plate?

The children use a wide variety of construction materials to enhance the development of mathematical concepts such as shape, area and symmetry.

Wet sand, dry sand and water are available daily and give the children the opportunity to learn such concepts as full and empty, heavy, big and small.

The staff provide dough and clay with shaped cutters, tins and tools.  They encourage the children to count, estimate and talk about shape while they are using these materials.

Some More Ways

Small world toys are used to explore space, count and use positional language.

Stories are used to emphasise order, pattern and sequencing eg Goldilocks and the three bears.

The children have free access to telephones, calculators and tape measures.

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