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Mastering Number at Reception and KS1
Learn more about this programme on the NCETM website
Who can take part?
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.
Lead Teachers will attend three central workshops and three local workshops across the year. Schools can nominate additional Reception teachers to join the central and local workshops according to local need. Maths leads and Lead Teachers will also be invited to a local launch event. In addition, there will be opportunities for some participants to observe Reception practice. They should use the teaching materials in their own classes and support their colleagues in parallel classes, where relevant, to do the same. The maths lead is encouraged to attend the national workshops with the Lead Teachers.
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.
The short videos below give a flavour of Mastering Number happening with different age groups. The teachers explains how the programme has benefited all pupils in their classes, providing firm foundations for later work in maths.
What is the cost?
The Mastering Number Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.
What are the intended outcomes?
Pupil outcomes
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.
Whole-school/departmental policies and approaches
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.
Practice development
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.
Professional learning
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.