In Reception, we focus on building a strong grounding in number and numerical patterns for all pupils, which is essential to develop the necessary building blocks to excel mathematically. Children develop the skills to count confidently, to explore a deep understanding of numbers to 10 and beyond (exploring the relationships between them) and recognise patterns within those numbers.  

Children will explore the following skills, knowledge and processes within number: 

• Subitising 
• Linking the number symbol (numeral) with its cardinal number value.  
• Counting beyond ten.  
• Comparing numbers.  
• Understanding the ‘one more than/one less than’ relationship between consecutive numbers.  
• Exploring the composition of numbers to 10.  
• Automatically recalling number bonds for numbers 0–5 and some to 10. 

Maths in Reception also includes rich opportunities for children to develop their spatial reasoning skills within shape, space and measure.  

They develop the knowledge and skills to: 

• Select, rotate and manipulate shapes to develop spatial reasoning skills. 
• Compose and decompose shapes so that children recognise a shape can have other shapes within it, just as numbers can. 
• Continue, copy and create repeating patterns.
• Compare length, weight and capacity. 

Children learn through play -based, practical activities, which include a planned, balanced provision of daily adult-led and child-initiated activities.