Core Skills Analysis
Math
Evie worked on early maths skills at around age 6-7, using workbooks to support the National Curriculum and build confidence with number work. She practiced adding and subtracting in a hands-on way with MathLink cubes, which helped her see and touch the quantities as she counted. This likely strengthened her understanding of one-to-one counting, number bonds, and the idea that adding means combining and subtracting means taking away. The activity showed Evie working at an appropriate level for her delays, with practical support to make abstract maths more accessible.
Tips
To extend Evie’s maths learning, keep using concrete objects like cubes, counters, or small toys so she can physically model each sum and subtraction problem before moving to pictures or numbers on paper. Try short daily practice with real-life situations, such as adding snacks, counting steps, or taking away items from a group, to help her connect maths to everyday life. You could also use simple number tracks or ten-frames to support counting on and counting back, which will help her begin to notice patterns in number facts. As she grows more secure, gradually mix workbook questions with matching cube activities so she can move from hands-on understanding to recording answers more independently.
Book Recommendations
- Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews: A counting book that helps children notice numbers and quantity in a simple, visual way.
- One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss: A playful book that supports early number language, counting, and pattern recognition.
- Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno: A classic visual counting book that encourages careful observation of quantities and number order.
Learning Standards
- National Curriculum for England: Mathematics KS1 — matches counting and calculating with addition and subtraction using practical resources.
- NCETM early maths principles — supports understanding through manipulatives before moving to abstract recording.
- National Curriculum code 1C1 — compare, describe and solve practical problems for addition and subtraction using concrete objects.
- National Curriculum code 1C2 — represent and use number bonds and related subtraction facts within 20.
- National Curriculum code 1C3 — add and subtract one-digit and two-digit numbers to 20, including zero, with practical apparatus.
Try This Next
- Create a simple worksheet with pictures of cubes for Evie to count, add, and cross out for subtraction.
- Ask Evie to build two cube towers and write the matching addition sentence.
- Use a short quiz: 'What happens when we add one more?' and 'What happens when we take one away?'
- Draw and label a number line showing a jump forward for addition and backward for subtraction.