4.2 Support children’s interest and development in mathematical learning, including numbers, number patterns, counting, sorting and matching

Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner
Unit: EYP 14: Support the needs of the child in preparing for school
Learning outcome: 4. Be able to support children’s mathematical development in preparation for school
Assessment criteria: 4.2 Support children’s interest and development in mathematical learning, including numbers, number patterns, counting, sorting and matching

Several opportunities that can support a child’s mathematical development are provided below.
Number – rhyme and song, daily activities (e.g. 4 children have a yoghurt, how many spoons are needed? etc.)
Shape – shape-sorters, cutting and glueing, looking a shapes whilst walking in the community (e.g. road signs, windows etc.)
Size and pattern – which item is bigger? can you sort these items from smallest to biggest? rhythm patterns, leaf patters
Weight – cooking/baking, playing with scales, which is lighter/heavier?
Volume and capacity – cooking/baking, water/sand play
Space and time – group chats (what day is it? What day was yesterday/is tomorrow?), planned activities for morning/afternoon, holidays (e.g. Easter, Diwali etc.)
Matching and sorting – shape sorters, putting objects in order (e.g. biggest to smallest, heaviest to lightest, colours of the rainbow etc.)
Data represention – tally charts (e.g. how many of a particular object were spotted during a walk)
Problem solving – how could one digital tablet be shared amongst 6 children fairly? How could the water from one bucket be transferred to another bucket the quickest? (providing a variety of different sized jugs)