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September 10, 2025
Picture this: your three-year-old is building with blocks, naturally exploring concepts of height, balance, and quantity. They're sorting their snacks by colour, comparing who has "more" crackers, and counting steps as they climb the playground equipment. What you're witnessing isn't just play – it's the foundation of mathematical thinking that will shape their entire educational journey.
At Kings Road Preschool, we've always believed that these early moments matter enormously. Now, we're taking that belief to the next level with something truly exciting: our team is currently undergoing specialised training in Let's Count Professional Learning, making us among the first early childhood centres in Australia to implement this evidence-based approach when we launch it this November 2025.
Here's a statistic that might surprise you: one in three Australian students aren't achieving proficiency in mathematics. That's not just a number on a report – it represents thousands of children who struggle with a skill that impacts everything from their confidence in the classroom to their future career opportunities.
But here's the hopeful part: research shows us that strong early numeracy skills are powerful predictors of later mathematical success. The foundation we build in these precious preschool years can transform those statistics, one child at a time.
When your child counts their fingers, notices that some containers hold more water than others, or recognises that they need "one more" block to complete their tower, they're developing sophisticated mathematical thinking. These aren't just cute moments – they're building blocks of numeracy that include verbal counting, recognising quantities, comparing amounts, and understanding how numbers work in the real world.
What's remarkable is that these skills develop naturally through everyday experiences. Children don't need worksheets or formal lessons; they need rich, meaningful interactions that help them notice and explore the mathematics all around them.
The impact extends far beyond school success. Good early numeracy skills are linked to positive life outcomes including life satisfaction, and physical and mental health. When we nurture mathematical confidence in the early years, we're not just preparing children for primary school – we're setting them up for a lifetime of confident problem-solving.
What makes us particularly excited is that Kings Road Preschool is implementing this cutting-edge approach alongside a select group of early childhood centres. Our team is currently immersed in this training, learning to weave mathematical conversations seamlessly into story time, outdoor play, creative activities, and even snack time.
The beauty of early numeracy lies in its natural presence in everything children love to do. When children build with blocks, they're exploring space and measurement. When they help set the table, they're practicing one-to-one correspondence. When they notice patterns in their artwork or the rhythm in a song, they're developing mathematical reasoning that will serve them for years to come.
At Kings Road, we understand that number is far more complex and interesting than just counting to ten. Our approach embraces the rich, interconnected concepts that form strong numeracy foundations:
Number and meaning-making happens when children explore quantity, learn mathematical language, and begin to understand symbols. Watch a child excitedly announce "I have three crackers!" and you're seeing this in action.
Patterning unfolds as children notice that some things repeat in predictable ways – from the stripes on their shirt to the rhythm of their favourite song.
Measurement comes alive when children compare heights, fill containers with water, or discover how many steps it takes to cross the playground.
Spatial reasoning develops as children navigate their environment, build structures, and understand relationships between objects and spaces.
One of the things we love most about our Learning for Life approach is how beautifully it aligns with supporting mathematical thinking. We see children's numeracy knowledge bloom in their developing counting skills and their growing capacity to compare, share, order, estimate, and calculate with real objects and meaningful experiences.
Research tells us that without early intervention, children who start behind tend to fall further behind as each school year progresses. That's why our inclusive, nurturing environment ensures every child – regardless of their starting point – has access to rich, joyful numeracy experiences that build both skills and confidence.
As we prepare to launch our enhanced numeracy approach this November, we're filled with anticipation about the mathematical adventures ahead. The program recognises something beautiful: everyone – children, parents, and carers – can be a mathematician with the right support and encouragement.
We believe that early childhood is a unique and precious stage of life, where mathematical foundations are established not through pressure or formal instruction, but through wonder, exploration, and joy. Through our specialised training and continued commitment to evidence-based practice, we're ensuring that every child in our care develops not just numeracy skills, but a positive mathematical mindset that will serve them throughout their lives.
The journey toward mathematical confidence begins with those magical moments of discovery – when a child first understands "more than" and "less than," when they realise patterns make the world predictable and beautiful, or when they experience the satisfaction of solving a problem through their own thinking.
At Kings Road Preschool, we're not just preparing children for their next step in education. We're nurturing confident, curious mathematical thinkers who will approach challenges with creativity and resilience. And with our upcoming Let's Count implementation, we're more equipped than ever to make every mathematical moment count.
Ready to see mathematical thinking in action? We'd love to show you how learning unfolds naturally in our nurturing environment. Contact us or arrange a visit to discover how we're building tomorrow's problem solvers, one joyful discovery at a time.
