The document provides advice on supporting early years mathematical development outdoors. It recommends incorporating counting, sorting, matching, patterns, relationships and working with numbers, shapes, space and measures into outdoor play through stories, songs, games and imaginative activities. Practitioners are advised to provide opportunities for children to count objects, compare and combine numbers, share equally, recognize shapes and sizes, and gain awareness of space and measurement.

1. Early Years Outdoors Advice Sheet
Mathematical Development (Problem
Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy)
Mathematical development
depends on children
Early Years Outdoors is becoming confident and
one of the subscription competent in learning and
services from Learning using key skills.
through Landscapes,
the UK’s national school
grounds and early years This area of learning includes
outdoor play charity. counting, sorting, matching,
seeking patterns, making
For more information connections, recognising
about subscriptions, relationships and working with
call 01962 845811. numbers, shapes, space and
measures.
The following images give ideas
and examples of how early years
practitioners around the country
are supporting this area of
learning in their outdoor
The Early Years environment.
Outdoors Advice Mathematical understanding
Line is open Monday to
Text and captions sourced from should be developed through
Friday all year round.
Contact our specialist Curriculum Guidance for the stories, songs, games and
team for advice on Foundation Stage imaginative play, so that children
using, designing or enjoy using and experimenting
managing your space:
with numbers.
Tel:
01962 845811
Email:
member@ltl.org.uk
Web:
www.ltl.org.uk
LTL accepts no
responsibility for the
quality of goods or
services provided by
any companies listed.
This Advice Sheet offers
a selection of contacts
to try – always try your
local Yellow Pages or
Thomson Directory, and
an internet search
engine such as
www.google.com as
well.
AD: 10-10

2. Early Years Outdoors Advice Sheet
Mathematical Development (Problem
Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy)
Early Years Outdoors is
one of the subscription
services from Learning
through Landscapes,
the UK’s national school
grounds and early years
outdoor play charity.
For more information
about subscriptions,
call 01962 845811.
The Early Years
Outdoors Advice
Line is open Monday to
Friday all year round.
Contact our specialist
team for advice on
using, designing or
managing your space:
Tel:
01962 845811
Email: Offer children opportunities to
member@ltl.org.uk say number names in order and
match the numbers to the objects
Web:
counted.
www.ltl.org.uk
LTL accepts no
responsibility for the
quality of goods or
services provided by
any companies listed.
This Advice Sheet offers
a selection of contacts
to try – always try your
local Yellow Pages or
Thomson Directory, and
an internet search
engine such as
www.google.com as
well.
AD: 10-10

3. Early Years Outdoors Advice Sheet
Mathematical Development (Problem
Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy)
Early Years Outdoors is
one of the subscription
services from Learning
through Landscapes,
the UK’s national school
grounds and early years
outdoor play charity.
For more information
about subscriptions,
call 01962 845811. Provide materials and equipment
for children to sort, count, talk
about, and compare.
The Early Years Calculating at this stage is all
Outdoors Advice about using numbers in practical
Line is open Monday to
contexts.
Friday all year round.
Contact our specialist
team for advice on
using, designing or
managing your space:
Tel: Offer opportunities for children to
01962 845811 compare numbers of objects,
Email:
combine numbers of objects, and
member@ltl.org.uk share objects equally.
Web:
www.ltl.org.uk
LTL accepts no
responsibility for the
quality of goods or
services provided by
any companies listed.
This Advice Sheet offers
a selection of contacts
to try – always try your
local Yellow Pages or
Thomson Directory, and
an internet search
engine such as
www.google.com as
well.
AD: 10-10

4. Early Years Outdoors Advice Sheet
Mathematical Development (Problem
Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy)
Early Years Outdoors is
one of the subscription
services from Learning
through Landscapes,
the UK’s national school
grounds and early years
outdoor play charity.
For more information
about subscriptions,
call 01962 845811. Awareness of space involves
handling shapes and fitting them
together.
The Early Years Awareness of shape involves
Outdoors Advice recognising similarities,
Line is open Monday to
differences and distinguishing
Friday all year round.
Contact our specialist properties of shapes.
team for advice on
using, designing or
managing your space:
Tel:
01962 845811
Measuring involves being able to
compare sizes and quantities
Email:
member@ltl.org.uk
Web:
www.ltl.org.uk
LTL accepts no
responsibility for the
quality of goods or
services provided by
any companies listed.
This Advice Sheet offers
a selection of contacts
to try – always try your
local Yellow Pages or
Thomson Directory, and
an internet search
engine such as
www.google.com as
well.
AD: 10-10