TEY-10.2

36 Teachearlyyears.com P A R T NE R CON T EN T Why is Numicon the perfect resource to start learning maths with? Numicon is such a tactile and visual resource, it’s perfect for small hands as early maths concepts are first explored through rich play opportunities and teacher led activities. The multi-sensory approach underpinning Numicon means that children literally hold maths in their hands. This ensures a positive and engaging start to learning maths because children can feel and see numbers, understand how the number system works, and make links in their learning as they explore early concepts. Why are Numicon’s Early Years resources different to other maths resources? Numicon aims to facilitate children’s understanding and enjoyment of maths by using structured imagery. The combination of a teaching manual and apparatus makes Numicon’s Firm Foundations programme for the Early Years Curriculum unlike other resources. All areas of the Early Years curriculum are covered with engaging activities that promote talking and communicating mathematically, as well as exploring relationships by doing maths. Tried and tested by teachers, these activities range from snack time to outdoor learning, and link to other areas of the curriculum too. What support does Numicon offer for staff teaching maths in Early Years? The Firm Foundations pack contains a comprehensive teaching guide to help practitioners get started with Numicon. Long and medium term planning charts are available in the manual with additional ideas and support on Numicon online (along with a wealth of other resources). Activity groups provide a progressive programme for building children’s understanding of number, shape, space and measures. Each activity highlights ‘have ready resources’ and key questions. Activity cards can be handily taken out of the ring binder as an aide memoire for teaching. “Maths in your hands” ASK THE EXPERT Professional development leader, Louise Pennington , tells us why Numicon is the perfect resource for children to start learning maths with... How easy is it to start teaching with Numicon? Numicon is really easy to introduce. You can add Numicon Shapes to a sand or water activity, or set up a baseboard with a picture overlay for children to access freely. Teaching activities are really engaging, with ‘Have ready’ resources and ‘Key questions’ clearly highlighted in the manual. Each Teaching Resource Handbook (print or digital) has familiarization activities to ensure that all primary age children can have a positive start to using Numicon, whatever year group it might be introduced. What feedback have you had from teachers and parents who use Numicon? In our recent Oxford Impact report 97 per cent of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that Numicon helps pupils improve their use of mathematical language and vocabulary, 99 per cent perceived that it helps children think and communicate mathematically with 98 per cent reporting gains in developing fluency, reasoning and problem solving skills. Parents regularly tell us how much progress their children have made at home and in school using Numicon. There is a strong Numicon community, find us on: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube (Oxford Education). The Numicon Guide for Parents and free resources, available on Oxford Owl for Home (bit.ly/Numicon_at_home) . Numicon NCETM accredited Professional Development, available face to face or digitally, where you can access it anywhere, at anytime, online. Activity and ‘How to…?’ videos on our YouTube channel explore the key Numicon manipulatives (youtube.com/OxfordEducation ). Email: globalpd@oup.com Website: oxfordprimary.co.uk/numicon-pd ASK ME ABOUT EXPERT PROFILE Louise Pennington is a professional development leader and an expert in teacher professional development and teaching. Find her on twitter @pdLouiseP