This Work Group is open to schools (up to two places per school) that are participating in Mastery Readiness, Developing Mastery, Embedding Mastery or Sustaining Mastery Work Groups in 2020-21. 

Best practice in Early Years maths can have a significant positive impact on pupils’ learning of maths at KS1 and beyond. This project enables participants to explore how good practice in the early learning of mathematics can promote a ‘bottom up’ approach to strategies for teaching and learning in primary maths, especially when a teaching for mastery approach is used in KS1. 

Who will be leading the group?

Sue Evans and Louise Morris

Sue is a Primary Maths Teaching for Mastery Specialist and NCETM PD Accredited lead. She is an experienced Primary Maths subject leader, with MaST qualification, and Masters in Primary Maths Education. Sue has undertaken extensive Primary Maths research of different educational systems, including working collaboratively with and hosting teachers from Shanghai. She has led Mastery of Number in Year 1 and EYFS SKE work groups for our Maths Hub. Sue has worked for NCETM to develop Video Lessons and Ready to Progress Criteria materials.

Louise is an experienced EYFS teacher with NCETM PD Accredited lead. 

Who is it for?

This 3 day Work Group is for Reception teachers in schools that have adopted Teaching for Mastery.  This project is aimed at schools who are already committed to Teaching for Mastery and have previously engaged in a Maths Hub Teaching for Mastery Work Group. Collaboration between the Reception teacher participating in this Work Group and the teacher leading on Teaching for Mastery as well as the senior leadership team within the school is vital. 

We recommend that the Maths Lead and SLT take an active part in monitoring inter-sessional learning in school between workshops, and are also welcome to join one of the workshops, by request.

What are the intended outcomes?

Participants in this project will:

• develop 'an understanding of a key aspects' of effective Early Years maths pedagogy
• understand the principles of the NCETM teaching for mastery approach, and how these can be applied appropriately within the context of an Early Years setting
• identify and implement effective Early Years pedagogies in their own provision, and gain insight into how they will support children in maths learning as they move to Year 1
• promote a positive attitude towards maths, so that all children are seeking out maths in their environment, demonstrating a willingness to ‘have a go’, and can communicate these ideas.

What will it involve?

There is the expectation that participants will engage in research as part of their independent learning through the duration of this project.  In addition to this there will be in-school work focusing on the EYFS teacher, Maths Lead and a member of the senior leadership team developing and improving practice which will inform future policy development.  

All schools participating will choose three focused children, an emphasis on Work Group activity being mainly in school. 

As this is CPD in the form of a Work Group, participants will be expected to carry out tasks beyond the face-to-face time. They should also be aware that as a Work Group they are developing new knowledge and contributing to a body of knowledge, so should be willing to share their findings more widely.

Participants will be expected to attend all workshops. Schools will be expected to release participants for the days required and to support them in providing time for collaborative work and gap tasks.  Participants will be asked to keep a reflection log for their own use and contribute to the national evaluation process, through a short online survey after the Work Group has finished.

What is the cost?

Free

Cover costs of up to £200 per day will be paid for teachers in their first two years of teaching. Please indicate where requested on the booking form.