“Play is an effective vehicle for fostering Mathematical concepts and developing positive attitudes to mathematics... Adults in the pre-school setting should seek to extend informally the mathematical experiences the children have already had in their home environment.” (Curricular Guidance for Pre- school Education)

Subitising in the early years refers to the ability to instantly recognize the number of objects in a small group without counting them. It's an important early math skill that helps children develop number sense and lays the foundation for more complex math concepts. 

Key Aspects of Subitising in Early Years: 

• Developmental Progression:

  Children often develop subitising skills before they can count, starting with smaller quantities like 1, 2, and 3. 

• Early Learning Goals:

  By the end of Reception year (early years), children are expected to be able to subitise up to 5, White Rose Education says. 

• Importance:

  Subitising helps children develop a strong understanding of numbers, build a foundation for counting, and improve mental math skills. 

• Perceptual Subitising:

  This is the ability to instantly recognize small quantities (typically up to 5) without counting, like seeing 3 dots on a die and knowing it's three. 

• Conceptual Subitising:

  This involves understanding how numbers are made up of smaller parts. For example, recognizing that a group of 6 can be made up of 2 groups of 3. 

Activities and Resources for Supporting Subitising: 

• Dice:

  Rolling dice and asking children to instantly recognize the number of dots. 

• Dot Cards:

  Using cards with different numbers of dots arranged in various patterns. 

• Five and Ten Frames:

  These visual aids help children see how numbers are composed of smaller units. 

• Hands-on Activities:

  Using fingers, tally marks, and other real-life objects to represent numbers. 

• Games and Play:

  Incorporating subitising into everyday activities, like counting objects during playtime. 

The children will have lots of access to a variety of mathematical activities in Nursery with a big focus on subitising.