Early Year Maths: Building Great Foundations

Discover Our Great Foundations Programme

At Mathnasium Notting Hill we have a core belief – confidence in maths begins early.

That’s why we created the Great Foundations programme: a hands-on, fun and interactive experience designed specifically for young learners to literally give them the Great Foundations of their numeracy and maths. The programme is all about building essential mathematical thinking through engaging activities that feeds curiosity, encourages independence, and inspires confidence.

🌱 Why Early Maths Matters

Research shows that strong early maths skills are one of the best precursors of later academic success. That’s because maths builds the brain’s ability to reason, compare, classify, and problem-solve. “Looking ahead to adulthood, the available evidence shows both the positive lifetime impact of acquiring mathematical skills and the potential limitations of not doing so” (https://www.ncb.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/files/Maths%20Brief%20MAR19.pdf Date Accessed: 05/08/2025)

🧠 What Will My Child Learn?

Getting your child involved in early maths doesn’t mean rushing ahead—it means giving them the time and space to explore and enjoy numbers in a way that feels natural. Great Foundations helps build not just maths skills, but the confidence, curiosity, and love of learning that will carry your child forward in every subject.

Children enrolled in Great Foundations explore 10 key areas that form the building blocks for all future mathematical learning:

1. Attributes – Spotting how objects are similar or different (by size, shape, colour, etc.)
2. Spatial Relationships – Understanding positions and directions (e.g., above, beside, behind)
3. Classification – Grouping objects based on shared characteristics
4. Patterning – Recognising and creating patterns using objects and numbers
5. One-to-One Correspondence – Matching numbers to actual quantities
6. Ordering – Arranging objects by size, value, or position
7. Numeration – Making the leap from number symbols to meaningful counting
8. Shapes – Exploring 2D and 3D shapes and how they fit together
9. Half – Understanding that “half” means two equal parts
10. Measurement – Using words to describe and compare size, length, and quantity

These skills are taught through tactile teaching (exploring the concepts through physical manipulatives), creativity, and conversation — helping children build strong number sense without pressure, and of course, in a fun learning environment.

🏆 Award-Winning Programme

In July 2023, our Fulham centre was proudly awarded Best Great Foundations Programme at the Mathnasium UK Convention. Cited in their recognition of our Fulham centre, Mathnasium HQ commented on the remarkable number of students who “graduated from the programme and progressed onto the core Mathnasium curriculum with significantly better numeracy foundations.”

This recognition highlights the exceptional delivery of our early years curriculum, our creative and child-led approach, and the outstanding progress our young learners make. 

🎓 What Comes Next?

Children who complete the Great Foundations programme are well-prepared to transition into our main Mathnasium curriculum when the time is right. They’ll enter Key Stage 1 with a solid understanding of numbers, patterns, and problem-solving — and a mindset that says, “I can do this!”

Independent studies show that students attending Mathnasium consistently improve in as few as 20 sessions, and Great Foundations sets the stage for this kind of progress from the very beginning.

👶 Is This Right for My Child?

Great Foundations is designed for children aged 4-6 and older students who may have missed some early mathematical concepts. It’s best suited for children who are beginning to explore number recognition, shapes, patterns, and simple problem-solving — and who are ready for a gentle, structured introduction to maths. Crucially we expect students to have developed a medium-level of pencil control and to be able to write numbers legibly.

Unsure if this is right for your child? We understand that every child is different — and it’s completely normal to have questions. Here are some of the most common ones we hear from parents:

🧒 “My child is only just 4 — are they ready?”

Every child develops at their own pace. If you're unsure, the best next step is to come in for a free, friendly assessment. We’ll gently explore where your child is at and whether Great Foundations is the right fit right now.

💭 “Would my child benefit from this even if they already enjoy maths?”

Absolutely! Children who enjoy maths often love Great Foundations — it gives them a chance to explore, stretch their thinking, and deepen their confidence in a fun, supportive environment.

🤷 “What if my child doesn’t seem interested in numbers yet?”

That’s okay. Great Foundations is designed to spark curiosity and build confidence from the very beginning. Even children who are unsure or shy at first often thrive once they start exploring shapes, patterns and numbers through hands-on activities.

✅ The best way to find out? Come in for an assessment.

We’ll meet your child, get to know their needs and interests, and help you decide whether Great Foundations is the right next step — no pressure, just support and guidance.

📍 Visit us in-centre (Mathnasium Notting Hill - 136A Lancaster Road London, W11 1QU)
📞 Call 020 8076 0111 to book your free consultation
💬 Or contact us online – we’re happy to answer your questions!