Fully funded early maths trials
With support from The Richmond Project, we’re beginning national trials of two brand-new early maths programmes designed to do for number what high-quality phonics programmes have done for reading. Right now, we’re inviting Nursery and Reception settings to register your interest in being part of this journey.
About the funding
A chance to build the evidence base for early maths
We’re thrilled to announce that Rethink Maths has been awarded funding from The Richmond Project, a charity set up by Akshata Murty and Rishi Sunak to support number skills initiatives across the UK.
This funding will allow us to trial two high-quality, connected, programmes, designed to work together across the early years to develop a secure and deep understanding of numbers.
These early trials will test a portion of each programme, allowing us to refine our materials, gather practitioner feedback, and build early evidence of impact before wider rollout.
An independent evaluator will be appointed to ensure the trials are rigorous, credible, and genuinely useful for the sector.
Why this matters
Getting the foundations right
We know the earliest years of a child’s education shape how they feel about learning – and about maths. When those early experiences are rich, playful, and full of purpose, children build confidence, curiosity, and understanding that stays with them for life.
Too often, early maths lacks the structure and intentionality we see in other areas of the curriculum. We think it’s time to change that.
Our programmes bring together everything we know that works: play, repetition, clear routines, strong adult modelling, and a focus on the language children need to think and talk mathematically. They provide practitioners with clear, explicit guidance and support so you always know exactly what to do and say.
The programmes
Please note: The programmes will ultimately run from pre-school to Year 2, but at this stage the current funded trial focuses on the pre-school and Reception stage only. If you’re interested in the programme for Year 1 and Year 2, sign up to our newsletter to be kept informed.
For Nursery
Just as pre-phonics programmes build the foundations for reading, our pre-school programme builds the habits and language children need to become confident young mathematicians.
Across the year, children journey through a series of imaginative worlds, each focusing on key mathematical ideas. Short, focused moments of explicit adult modelling sit alongside rich provision and meaningful play.
What to expect:
• Explicit guidance for practitioners
• Structured progression
• Strong emphasis on mathematical talk
• Short, focused teaching moments
• Specialist training and ongoing support
• Screen-free throughout
For Reception to Year 2
A systematic programme for deep, secure understanding of number. There's a clear sequence. There's a rhythm to each session. There's precise language that children hear again and again. And there's an ongoing approach to assessment that helps you know exactly where every child is and what they need next. Children develop secure, flexible understanding of numbers: how they're built, how they compare, how they change.
What to expect:
• Explicit guidance for teachers
• Systematic approach
• Clear assessment built in
• Builds genuine number sense
• Specialist training and ongoing support
• Screen-free throughout
Trial timeline
Efficacy Trials | September 2026 – July 2027
We’ll run efficacy trials with both Nursey and Reception settings, involving around 50 settings for each programme across England.
These trials will test a portion of each programme allowing us to gather detailed feedback, refine our materials and training model, and build early evidence of impact on practitioner confidence and children’s mathematical engagement.
Trial 1
20 Nursery settings and 20 Reception classes
Lancashire and Yorkshire & Humber based focus
Trial 2
30 Nursery settings and 30 Reception classes
Nationwide
Nursery
Following the efficacy trials, we'll run a larger national effectiveness trial for the 2027/28 academic year. This will involve around 80 nursery settings using the programme alongside matched comparison settings, with independent evaluation. This effectiveness trial is also funded by The Richmond Project.
Reception to Year 2
We're still developing plans for a larger effectiveness trial of the Reception stage of the programme. If you'd be interested in taking part in future trials, or simply want to stay informed as our plans develop, sign up to our newsletter below.
