Mastering Number - Embedding the Impact Community

Revised for 2026/27

Best Start in Life - This programme will support maths leads to understand how to embed effective practice in Reception into Key Stage 1, to ensure all pupils have the best start in life.

The Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life (2025) report is clear: too many children begin school without the secure foundations they need to thrive. With a national ambition for 75% of children to achieve a good level of development by the end of Reception, high‑quality early mathematics has never been more important.

Strong early maths is built through purposeful play, routines, small‑group work and rich interactions with adults — and this depends on confident, well‑supported practitioners.

This community is open to all schools involved in Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 in 2025/26, that are also part of a 2026/27 Teaching for Mastery Work Group, that have formally expressed interest in engaging in one in the future.

It is also open to schools that participated in Mastering Number at Reception and KS1 in previous years, provided they have not yet engaged with this community.

The maths lead will receive support to make Mastering Number a permanent element of the school curriculum. They will receive national and local professional development whilst being part of an online community.

Access to all teaching materials for Reception to Year 3, recordings of central sessions, and sample teaching videos will be available.

• Your pupils will show confidence in exploring additive relationships
• Your pupils will make good progress towards the Early Learning Goals and year group expectations
• You will work with colleagues either in school or in a local school to better understand how the Mastering Number resources can enhance teaching
• You and your school leaders will build on the learning of the first year of involvement to embed and sustain the practice in future years

This community is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.

Apply here to join this community.

Please note: If you are taking part in Mastering Number at Reception and Key Stage 1 this year (2025/26) you will automatically be enrolled as a member of the 2026/27 community and you do not need to complete the application form (unless your main contact has changed for next year).