Best Start in Life

As part of the Best Start in Life strategy, 2026/27 sees the SKTM (Reception teachers and accompanying Teaching Assistants) Programme replace the previous SKTM for Early Years. This programme will bring together the previous two pathways for Number and Spatial Reasoning in a one-year programme.

Who can take part?

This programme is for Reception teachers who would like to develop their specialist knowledge for teaching maths. It would be particularly valuable for a Reception teacher and their teaching assistant colleague to attend the programme together.

What you need to know:

This one-year programme will include number, shape, space and pattern. Participants will also explore how children’s learning in all these areas can be supported through the development of oracy, spatial reasoning, and executive function.

The programme consists of five days of facilitated learning: hub-led core sessions (the equivalent of four days); and NCETM-led asynchronous modules (the equivalent of one day).

Participants must attend the hub-led days, and reflect on learning and notice the impact of the changes in their practice on their pupils between these days. They will also complete a module between each hub-led day.

What is involved?

This one-year programme supports Reception teachers to develop specialist knowledge for teaching maths, and use a teaching for mastery approach as exemplified in the NCETM’s The Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery.

It will enable participants to explore number, shape, space and pattern. Reception teachers (and teaching assistants) will also explore how children’s learning in all these areas can be supported through the development of oracy, spatial reasoning and executive function.

Participants will attend four days of workshops, and complete four short online asynchronous modules between workshops, totalling the equivalent of one day.

What will you learn?

• Your pupils will be able to communicate their maths and mathematical thinking
• You will explore and increase your use of a range of pedagogic approaches that will support pupils in engaging with and developing their maths
• You will understand how maths opportunities can be developed across all areas and in everyday routines

What is the cost?

The Programme is fully funded by the Maths Hubs Programme so is free to participating schools.

Dates and Venue:

Southampton

The Southampton group will consist of four face-to-face sessions running from 9,30am to 4pm on the following dates:

• Thursday 7th January 2027
• Thursday 11th February 2027
• Tuesday 27th April 2027
• Monday 7th June 2027

These sessions will be held at the HISP Learning Partnership Hub, Tanners Brook Primary School, Elmes Drive, Southampton, SO15 4PF.

Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight group will consist of 4 face-to-face sessions running on the following dates:

• Thursday 4th February 2027
• Thursday 18th March 2027
• Thursday 29th April 2027
• Thursday 10th June 2027

These sessions will be held at Northwood Primary School, Wyatts Lane, Cowes, PO31 8PU.

Portsmouth

We are currently in the process of finalising the dates and venue for the Portsmouth group and will confirm these as soon as we can.