The early years foundation stage (EYFS) is an important period in a child’s development, which is why the government has committed to ensuring all schools comply with it. It is also what drives the curriculum of many pre-schools and nurseries.
But the EYFS has recently been revised with a range of changes to the way in which young children are taught maths, so it is essential to look at how and why these modifications have been made. This article provides an overview of the key changes to the EYFS maths curriculum and their implications.
1: The new early years foundation stage
The new EYFS came into effect in 2021, after a lengthy review process which involved a range of stakeholders, including teachers, academics and parents. The key aim of the revised EYFS is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the early years, with a focus on developing core skills and building a strong foundation for future learning. There are seven areas of learning, including literacy, maths and problem solving.
Mathematics plays a key role in all of these areas, so the changes to the EYFS maths curriculum are significant. In particular, there is now an emphasis on problem-solving and developing the ability to think flexibly and logically, as well as developing more traditional maths skills.
2: Enhancing core skills
One of the main changes to the EYFS maths curriculum, is the greater emphasis on core skills such as counting and number recognition. This is particularly important in the early years as it ensures children have the necessary foundations for problem-solving and other mathematical tasks.
The revised curriculum has also increased the level at which children are expected to learn core skills. For example, in the previous curriculum, children were expected to be able to identify objects by their shapes and count up to However, the revised curriculum now expects children to be able to count up to 20 items.
This is an important step, as it ensures that children have the necessary foundations to succeed with more complex tasks.
3: Problem-solving and logical thinking
The revised EYFS maths curriculum also places a greater emphasis on problem-solving and logical thinking. This is an important area of learning, as it encourages children to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems.
The curriculum encourages children to use strategies such as trial and error to work out the solution to a problem. This helps to develop their confidence when it comes to problem-solving and their understanding of how to apply mathematical concepts. The revised EYFS also places an emphasis on developing the ability to think creatively in maths.
This includes tasks such as creating patterns or visualising problems. This is important, as it encourages children to think in a different way and come up with unique solutions to problems.
4: Supporting diversity and inclusivity
Another key change to the EYFS maths curriculum is the focus on supporting diversity and inclusivity. This includes tasks such as problem-solving with different materials, as well as using different teaching styles for different learners. This is an important step as it ensures that everyone in the classroom is able to access the maths curriculum and develop their knowledge and skills.
The revised EYFS also encourages teachers to use a variety of maths activities and resources to support different learning styles and abilities. This is particularly important in the early years, as it ensures all children have the opportunity to be successful and develop their mathematical skills.
5: Promoting reasoning and mathematical language
The revised EYFS maths curriculum also places an emphasis on promoting reasoning and the use of mathematical language. This includes tasks such as explaining, predicting and describing how different material can be used in a maths problem. It also encourages children to think about a mathematical problem from different angles and to use mathematical language to articulate their thoughts.
This is an important step, as it helps to develop children’s language and communication skills, as well as their problem-solving skills.
6: Aptitude for maths
The revised EYFS maths curriculum also includes tasks that evaluate the aptitude of young children for the subject. This includes tasks such as identifying shapes and counting objects. These tasks are important as they help to identify children who have a natural aptitude for maths and those who may need more support to succeed with the subject.
This helps to ensure that all children can access the curriculum and develop their mathematical skills, regardless of their level of aptitude.
7: Incorporating technology
The revised EYFS maths curriculum also places an emphasis on incorporating technology into tasks. This includes tasks such as developing coding skills and exploring data analysis.
This is an important step, as it encourages children to become familiar with the technology that could form the basis of their future career. Incorporating technology into maths also helps to enliven and enhance the learning experience for young children. This is an important step as it ensures that children remain engaged with the curriculum and become motivated to learn maths.
8: Practical maths tasks
Another key change to the EYFS maths curriculum is the focus on practical maths tasks. This includes tasks such as weighing and measuring objects, as well as using money in various maths tasks.
These tasks are important, as they help to give children a real-life context for their maths skills. They also help to make the subject more engaging and encourage children to use their maths skills in everyday life.
9: Developing self-esteem and confidence
The revised EYFS curriculum also encourages teachers to create an environment that is conducive to developing self-esteem and confidence. This includes ensuring that children have a safe space to practice their maths skills, as well as providing opportunities for them to discuss their work and get feedback from the teacher. This is an important step, as it helps to boost children’s confidence and self-esteem when it comes to maths.
It also helps to motivate them to explore the subject further, as they know they have a supportive and encouraging teacher.
10: Participation in maths-based activities
The revised EYFS maths curriculum also places an emphasis on encouraging children to participate in maths-based activities. This includes tasks such as printing, tracing and colouring shapes and numbers, as well as playing maths-based games. These activities are important, as they provide children with hands-on experiences that help to develop their understanding of maths.
They also give children the opportunity to practice their maths skills in a fun and engaging way, which helps to motivate them to build upon their knowledge further.
11: Digital tools and resources
The revised EYFS curriculum also encourages teachers to make use of digital tools and resources to help support the learning experience. This includes using technology such as interactive apps and websites, as well as videos and games to enliven the learning experience. These tools and resources can also be used to differentiate tasks and provide support to those who may be struggling with a particular concept.
This is an important step, as it helps to ensure that all children are able to access the maths curriculum and develop their skills.
12: Problem solving and real world maths
The revised EYFS maths curriculum also puts an emphasis on problem-solving and exploring the application of mathematics in the real world. This includes tasks such as buying items in a shop and putting together a budget, as well as weighing and measuring items and looking at measurement conversion.
These tasks are important, as they help to develop children’s understanding of mathematics as a practical tool that can be used to make everyday life easier. By introducing these tasks at an early age, children develop a greater appreciation for the subject and how it can be useful in the real world.
13: Assessing progress
The revised EYFS maths curriculum also includes tasks that help to assess the progress of children. This includes the use of rubrics and levels to evaluate a child’s understanding and development of mathematical skills. This is important, as it helps to ensure that children are receiving the necessary support and developing their mathematical skills at the right pace.
It also provides teachers with an insight into which areas a child needs to work on and how they can adjust their teaching methods. This helps to ensure that the teaching practices are focused on helping children to reach their full potential with maths.
Conclusion
The revised EYFS maths curriculum is a significant step forward in terms of improving the quality of teaching and learning in the early years. The changes that have been made focus on developing key mathematical skills, such as problem-solving and logical thinking, as well as incorporating digital tools and resources to enliven the learning experience. At the same time, there is an emphasis on promoting inclusivity and supporting learners to reach their full potential with maths.
Overall, the revised EYFS maths curriculum is providing an important foundation for children to thrive in the early years and beyond.