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Mind That Childminder · Saturday · 1 hr 1 min

Ep 18: Making Early Maths Add up!

In this episode, your host and colleague Charlotte will be supporting childminders in removing barriers relating to maths outcomes and making sure childminders feel confident in delivering early maths opportunities. This episode looks at UK frameworks and a range of research while making complicated words simplified and giving practical ways to support maths through play. Music: Cute Avalanche- YouTube Audio Library References: Frameworks- Realising the Ambition (2020) https://education.gov.scot/media/3bjpr3wa/realisingtheambition.pdfDepartment for Education (Sept 2026) ‘Early years foundation stage statutory framework For childminders’ Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5f8e320dd52549f5f96c8c/EYFS_childminders_from_September_2026.pdf (Accessed 21/09/26) National Minimum Standards (June 2026) : https://www.gov.wales/national-minimum-standards-regulated-childcare-children-age-12-years-statutory-guidance accessed 21/09/26 Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (2019) ‘Curricular Guidance for Pre-School Education’ https://ccea.org.uk/downloads/docs/ccea-asset/Curriculum/Curricular%20Guidance%20for%20Pre-School%20Education.pdf Other- Ward J (2024) Available at: https://ndna.org.uk/new-research-shows-early-maths-intervention-gives-children-sustained-progress/ (Accessed 21/09/26)Department for Education (April 2026), https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/areas-of-learning/mathematics/numbers (Accessed 21/09/26) AVCİ K ,AKMAN B, (2022), “Teachers’ Views on Early Childhood Maths*” , Available at: https://doi.org/10.17522/balikesirnef.1224695 (accessed 5/10/26) Davis J, Kelly L, 2017, ‘Encouraging Family Involvement in Math during the Early Years’, Dimensions of Early Childhood Vol 45, No 3, Available at: https://shareok.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/2f972e93-fe21-44ec-9044-7efbefddcc1b/content (Accessed 5/10/26) Leeper M, 2015) ‘Developing Early Maths Through Story’, Practical Preschool Books, Available at https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d6saEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=childminders+maths&ots=8MjGCDCEit&sig=cKlzqjefeB-GJAEa-pC8Y3YwjZI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=childminders%20maths&f=false (Accessed 5/10/16) Van Oers, B. Emergent mathematical thinking in the context of play. Educ Stud Math 74, 23–37 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-009-9225-x accessed 5/10/26 Whitebread D, 2012, “The importance of Play” University of Cambridge, Available at file:///C:/Users/Will/Desktop/Podcast/maths%20episode/david-whitebread---importance-of-play-report.pdf Accessed 5/10/26 Faculty of Education, 2022, Available at: ‘Learning through 'guided' play can be as effective as adult-led instruction’ https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/learning-through-guided-play-can-be-as-effective-as-adult-led-instruction (Accessed 5/10/26) Birchenough J , Zhao V, Byrne E, 2023, ‘A playful, evidence-informed approach to maths education’ Available at: https://www.pedalhub.net/resource-library/resource/item/a-playful-evidence-informed-approach-to-maths-education/ Accessed 5/10/26 Clarifications/notes: Apologies for slight blurriness part way through! Dr David Whitebread (Not professor) https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/centres/pedal/news/2021/04/16/

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In this episode, your host and colleague Charlotte will be supporting childminders in removing barriers relating to maths outcomes and making sure childminders feel confident in delivering early maths opportunities.

This episode looks at UK frameworks and a range of research while making complicated words simplified and giving practical ways to support maths through play.

Music:

Cute Avalanche- YouTube Audio Library

References:

Frameworks- Realising the Ambition (2020) https://education.gov.scot/media/3bjpr3wa/realisingtheambition.pdfDepartment for Education (Sept 2026) ‘Early years foundation stage statutory framework For childminders’ Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5f8e320dd52549f5f96c8c/EYFS_childminders_from_September_2026.pdf (Accessed 21/09/26)

National Minimum Standards (June 2026) : https://www.gov.wales/national-minimum-standards-regulated-childcare-children-age-12-years-statutory-guidance accessed 21/09/26

Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (2019) ‘Curricular Guidance for Pre-School Education’ https://ccea.org.uk/downloads/docs/ccea-asset/Curriculum/Curricular%20Guidance%20for%20Pre-School%20Education.pdf

Other- Ward J (2024) Available at: https://ndna.org.uk/new-research-shows-early-maths-intervention-gives-children-sustained-progress/ (Accessed 21/09/26)Department for Education (April 2026), https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/areas-of-learning/mathematics/numbers (Accessed 21/09/26)

AVCİ K ,AKMAN B, (2022), “Teachers’ Views on Early Childhood Maths*” , Available at: https://doi.org/10.17522/balikesirnef.1224695 (accessed 5/10/26)

Davis J, Kelly L, 2017, ‘Encouraging Family Involvement in Math during the Early Years’, Dimensions of Early Childhood Vol 45, No 3, Available at: https://shareok.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/2f972e93-fe21-44ec-9044-7efbefddcc1b/content (Accessed 5/10/26)

Leeper M, 2015) ‘Developing Early Maths Through Story’, Practical Preschool Books, Available at https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=d6saEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=childminders+maths&ots=8MjGCDCEit&sig=cKlzqjefeB-GJAEa-pC8Y3YwjZI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=childminders%20maths&f=false (Accessed 5/10/16)

Van Oers, B. Emergent mathematical thinking in the context of play. Educ Stud Math 74, 23–37 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-009-9225-x accessed 5/10/26

Whitebread D, 2012, “The importance of Play” University of Cambridge, Available at file:///C:/Users/Will/Desktop/Podcast/maths%20episode/david-whitebread---importance-of-play-report.pdf Accessed 5/10/26

Faculty of Education, 2022, Available at: ‘Learning through 'guided' play can be as effective as adult-led instruction’ https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/learning-through-guided-play-can-be-as-effective-as-adult-led-instruction (Accessed 5/10/26)

Birchenough J , Zhao V, Byrne E, 2023, ‘A playful, evidence-informed approach to maths education’ Available at: https://www.pedalhub.net/resource-library/resource/item/a-playful-evidence-informed-approach-to-maths-education/ Accessed 5/10/26

Clarifications/notes:

Apologies for slight blurriness part way through!

Dr David Whitebread (Not professor) https://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/centres/pedal/news/2021/04/16/

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