Children in Nursery and during their Early Years are introduced both incidentally and formally to counting and to the use of number.

They learn number rhymes and songs which help reiterate the actual counting. ‘Baa baa black sheep’ is often sung by Mummies even when the children are babies. Other songs such as 'One two, buckle my shoe' are the start of learning to count. Children can often recite numbers up to ten by habit without any other concepts behind this. The difficult part is teaching children to associate, for example, the number 3 with three items. This takes a long time but with constant play, demonstration and even by trial and error the child will successfully be able to bring you one book and two pencils etc.

means 3

Then comes the stage of combining this knowledge with the physical recognition that this is actually what a three looks like and how it is written.

The next part of the learning is to be able to identify in which order the numbers do go. This comes with constant practice and by incidental learning with everyday things such as:

• Calendar
• Page numbers
• Reading books on number
• Using the telephone
• Using the computer
• Clock
• Remote control
• Car numbers

Games such as’ Snakes and ladders’, Snap with numbers and many computer games for three year olds reinforce all the details of learning.

Once the child has mastered a number line…i.e. counting from 1 to 10 and recognising the number symbol it is time to introduce concepts such as:

• which number comes before
• which is greater
• jump two numbers higher

This is a number line e.g.

• put your finger on 2 jump 2 numbers higher
• Which number comes before 6?
• Which numbers are greater than 7?

Gradually it is time to introduce the symbols + and =

This is done with blocks first and then numbers are introduced.

This is the child's first sum 1 + 2 = 3

Addition is always taught     across the page to start off with as this is the way that the child reads and they are also learning left to right eye and hand co-ordination.

Number teaching then progresses as the child is ready. Alongside this, the child is also learning about shape, time, weight and measurement.

Every child learns at a different time and at a different rate. Some find the concept of number very easy and others need more individual help. Everything the child does should be made fun and enjoyable.