TTS Talking Early Years Episode 14 | Language and Number sense with Rob Jennings
Sep 18, 2025
Rob Jennings, co-founder of the Dyscalculia Network and a maths specialist teacher, shares invaluable insights on language and number sense, focusing on children with dyscalculia. He highlights the critical role of concrete materials and visual learning in early years education. The discussion touches on effective teaching strategies that make learning enjoyable while addressing the challenges of neurodiversity, including the common co-occurrence of learning difficulties like dyslexia and ADHD.
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Core Definition Of Number Sense
- Number sense is a child's intuitive understanding of quantities, comparisons, patterns and counting.
- Weak number sense makes strategies like ‘‘start with the bigger number’’ ineffective for some learners.
Make Concrete Materials Normal
- Use concrete materials routinely to model abstract maths concepts for all ages.
- Place manipulatives centrally so students can dip in and out instead of reserving them for a few individuals.
Embed Resources In Everyday Practice
- Ensure concrete resources are available as normal classroom practice, not only for struggling pupils.
- Keep materials accessible in the middle of tables to support visual-spatial and geometry understanding.