Nursery World - Count on it (4)

Opportunities for maths learning are everywhere, as long as practitioners think ahead carefully, says <B>Jane Drake</B>

Long-term planning

Children's mathematical learning should always take place in a context that is meaningful to them, and practitioners must plan opportunities for mathematical development in all areas of play provision. However, it is useful to have a permanent resource base that will stimulate mathematical exploration and investigation and support children's learning.

To maximise the potential of this area, the whole staff team needs to be involved in the careful long-term planning of resources and organisation and clarify the learning opportunities that can occur there.

Possible learning experiences

Real mathematical understanding is rooted in concrete experiences. An inappropriate emphasis on formal teaching at this stage is likely to have a negative impact on children's later development.

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