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AISL Academy

Digging Deeper into Mathematics in Reception


This presentation will focus on Mathematics in the Early Years and provide insight into how mathematics can be supported through the use of ‘digging deeper' to encourage, challenge, resilience, questioning, and a depth of learning.

About This Event

This presentation will focus on Mathematics in the Early Years, specifically Reception (4-5 years). It will give an insight into how mathematics can be supported through the use of ‘digging deeper’ to encourage, challenge, resilience, questioning, and a depth of learning rather than breadth. It will also look into how Mathematics can become a subject for all, loved by all when planned for appropriately. It will also discuss how the environment can be used to effectively support mathematics and the important role of play-based learning. Digging deeper is a term that is often used in Early Years Education by providing an insight into how we successfully use Mathematics alongside the White Rose Programme. This presentation will hopefully provide a useful starting point and allow Early Years practitioners an opportunity to share best practices and inspire a future generation to have a real passion for mathematics whilst fostering a lifelong love of Maths.

About the Speakers

Jan Dubiel

Early Years Education Specialist

Jan Dubiel is an Early Years Education Specialist and is a nationally and internationally recognised specialist in Early Childhood Education. He was recently identified by the Times Educational Supplement as one of the ten most influential people in British education. He was previously Head of National and International Development at Early Excellence. He has worked as a YN, YR, and Y1 teacher, senior leader, consultant, adviser, and national lead on the management of the (Early Years) Foundation Stage Profile with QCA. He has written widely on different aspects of Early Years policy, pedagogy, and practice.

Irena Forrester

Reception Teacher, Harrow International School Shenzhen

Irena Forrester has been an Early Years and Primary school teacher for over nine years. Over this period, she has worked with children ranging from 3 years to 9 years of age. She possesses extensive knowledge of the EYFS, and she has studied Early childhood throughout her educational career at various levels. She holds a Diploma in Childcare and Education, a BA in Childhood Studies, and a PGCE in Early Years Education.

Before coming to Harrow International School Shenzhen, Irena’s international teaching adventure began in China, where she worked as a pre-nursery teacher at the British School of Beijing. Here she was able to teach and nurture the very youngest learners in EY, children from 18 months to 3 years of age.

Irena currently works in the EYC department in Reception, working with children between the ages of 4-5 years of age. Working in reception is a fundamental stage of a child’s education, and as a teacher, it is Irena’s continued aim to impart knowledge in a fun, engaging, and thought-provoking manner. She is truly passionate about teaching and always strives to ensure each child reaches their full potential and strives to be their best in all areas of their learning and development. This is further established through constant self-reflection, evaluation of lessons, and active observation and assessment of the learning taking place daily within her class.

She has a love of Mathematics which she hopes to instill in her students, and she aims to provide an attitude where children develop this shared enjoyment of mathematics as a subject that they can access and truly thrive whilst learning.

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