Supporting Early Maths Learning at Truro School Pre-Prep

Truro School Pre-Prep recently welcomed parents and guardians to an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Maths Workshop, designed to give families a deeper understanding of how mathematics is taught in the early years and how this learning can be supported at home.

The workshop formed part of Truro School Prep’s ongoing commitment to building strong foundations for learning from the very earliest stages. Parents were taken through a presentation showing how children as young as three develop essential mathematical understanding through carefully planned, practical experiences that prioritise confidence, enjoyment and deep understanding.

Rather than focusing on formal written calculations or worksheets, maths in EYFS is about helping children truly understand number. During the session, parents explored how the Pre-Prep team embeds foundational maths concepts into everyday classroom practice, play and conversation.

Two key ideas were at the heart of the workshop: subitising and cognitive load.

Subitising is the ability to recognise how many objects there are in a small group without counting them one by one. For example, when you look at three apples and instantly know there are three, that is subitising. Research shows that children can perceptually subitise small amounts from a very young age, even before they know number words. By developing this skill further, children begin to see numbers as whole quantities and understand how numbers are made up of smaller parts, a crucial step towards confident calculation later on.

Parents learned that while counting is important, it is subitising that allows children to calculate efficiently and fluently. Simply being able to count does not automatically lead to strong maths skills; understanding number does.

At Truro School Prep, pupils regularly work with visual patterns, number frames and small sets of objects, helping them to recognise quantities, compare numbers and explore questions.

The workshop also explored cognitive load theory, which refers to how much information the brain has to process at one time. For young children, if there is too much going on, the maths itself can become harder to see.

This is why teachers at Truro School Prep carefully choose simple, “boring” resources such as stones, counters or plain blocks rather than distracting toys like cars or dinosaurs. By reducing distractions, children can focus their attention on the mathematical idea being taught, making learning clearer and more effective. In simple terms, when the brain is less busy, learning becomes easier.

Parents were also given practical guidance on how to support maths learning at home. Simple activities such as noticing small quantities, talking about numbers in everyday life, and encouraging children to “see” amounts rather than immediately count them can all make a big difference.

The session highlighted that early maths is not about rushing children towards formal methods, but about giving them time, experiences and language to build secure understanding and confidence.

Truro School Prep’s approach to early maths gives pupils a strong foundation for future learning, not just in mathematics, but across the curriculum. By nurturing curiosity, understanding and enjoyment from the very beginning, the school ensures that children grow into confident, capable and enthusiastic mathematicians.

Truro School Prep would like to thank all parents and guardians who attended and looks forward to continuing to work in partnership to support every child’s learning journey.