Best Start in Life
This programme will support pupils to develop good number sense and allow maths leads to understand how to embed effective practice in Reception and in Key Stage 1, to ensure all pupils have the best start in life.
Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 – now in its sixth year – aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim over time is that children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number. Attention will be given to key knowledge and understanding needed in Reception classes, and progression through KS1 to support success in the future.
The short videos below shows teachers explaining how the programme has benefited all pupils in their classes, providing firm foundations for later work in maths.
Who can take part?
Good news – if your school has previously taken part, you can still register!
Lead participants from Work Group schools will be three teachers – one each from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 – known as Lead Teachers. Schools can also nominate additional Reception teachers to join central and local workshops. Some support will also be given to subject leaders and headteachers. Where appropriate, Lead Teachers are expected to support the other teachers in their year group.
What is involved?
This programme focuses on the key knowledge and understanding needed in Reception, and progression through KS1. Lead Teachers in participating schools will receive training and will be part of an online community, to share practice and engage in critical reflection. Teaching materials will be provided, aimed at developing children’s fluency and flexibility with number.
New for 2026/27: Additional teaching resources have been created which cover the whole of the maths curriculum for Reception.
Participating schools will nominate three Lead Teachers, one from each of Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. These Lead Teachers will attend three central workshops and three local workshops across the year – the maths lead is encouraged to attend the national workshops with the Lead Teachers. Schools can nominate additional Reception teachers to join the central and local workshops according to local need.
Lead Teachers will collaborate with other participants in the Work Group, via an online community. This may be in the form of writing brief responses to questions posed by the Work Group Lead, or responding to comments from other participants. They will also be asked to provide assessment data for four pupils, once at the beginning of the year and once at the end of the year.
Participating teachers will explore the Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 materials relevant to their year group, and understand the connections in learning with previous and subsequent year groups. There will be opportunities for some participants to observe Reception practice.
Lead Teachers should use the teaching materials in their own classes and support their colleagues in parallel classes, where relevant, to do the same.
What will you learn?
This project aims to secure firm foundations in the development of good number sense for all children from Reception through to Year 1 and Year 2. The aim over time is that children will leave KS1 with fluency in calculation and confidence and flexibility with number. Attention will also be given to key knowledge and understanding needed in Reception classes, and progression through KS1 to support success in the future.
- Your pupils will develop and demonstrate good number sense
- You will develop a secure understanding of how to build firm mathematical foundations
- You will work to develop teaching strategies focused on developing fluency in calculation and number sense for all children
- You will develop understanding and use of appropriate manipulatives to support your teaching of mathematical structures
What are the intended outcomes?
Click on the options below to take a look at the intended outcomes for each of the following areas:
Pupils will:
• develop fluency in calculation and a confidence and flexibility with number that exemplifies good number sense.
• make good progress towards the Early Learning Goals and year group expectations.
Participants will work with their school/subject leaders to:
• develop Mastering Number as part of the school curriculum.
• develop understanding of how EYFS pupils progress in their knowledge and understanding of maths concepts and support planning for intentional learning in EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2 provision.
Participants will:
• practise pedagogical and assessment strategies shared in the central training.
• work to develop intentional teaching strategies focused on developing fluency in calculation and number sense for ALL children including developing spatial reasoning skills.
• in Reception, develop their understanding of how to teach shape, space, pattern and measure.
• develop understanding and their use of appropriate manipulatives to support their teaching of the mathematical structures.
Participants will:
• work as part of a professional learning community to reflect on their approaches, deepen their understanding about effective approaches and refine their practice.
• develop a secure understanding of how to build firm mathematical foundations with a stronger subject and pedagogical understanding for EYFS and KS1.
• secure an understanding of the mathematical age-related expectations including expectations of the Early Years Framework and the meaning of the Early Learning Goals.
What is the cost?
The Mastering Number Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.
What is the time commitment?
One teacher will lead Mastering Number in each year group, passing on the information to other teachers in the same year group.
Typically, there are 6 sessions for each teacher to attend, spread out across 3 terms and usually about an hour long (3 national workshops and 3 local sessions). The individual sessions for each year group usually take place on a different date or the same day but at a different time (for example session 1 for Reception on Monday, Y1 on Tuesday, Y2 on Wednesday, or it might be Monday 9-10, 10-11, and 11-12).
The 3 online national workshops are recorded so can be watched at a later date.
How do I sign up?
Click Register to express your interest.
More information
- READ: How to Put the Ofsted Maths Report into Practice – Mastering Number
- READ: ‘Taking the ceiling off learning’ with Mastering Number – explore how one trust has invested fully in the whole-school systems and structures needed to ensure success in the Mastering Number Programme
- LISTEN: A podcast discussion with two teachers at a school engaged in Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 — How early primary maths influences school-wide teaching
- READ: A feature which explores the impact of Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 on a small rural primary school with mixed-age classes
- READ: One Lancashire primary school has seen pupil confidence flourish as numeracy skills are embedded from Reception — How Mastering Number supports EAL and disadvantaged pupils