Babyzone Everyday Maths Is Here — Build Future Thinkers

Spotlight 🌟

Babyzone Everyday Maths: Building the World’s Future Thinkers

Brains grow fastest from birth to age five, and those early experiences lay the foundation for how children will think, learn, and solve problems for the rest of their lives.

That’s why we’re launching Babyzone Everyday Maths — a playful, practical programme that helps parents turn ordinary routines into extraordinary learning moments. Research shows that early maths skills are as strong a predictor of later school success as early reading.

Equity starts early. Gaps in maths understanding between children from different backgrounds open up well before school. Everyday Maths aims to help close those gaps by putting fun, confidence-building activities into the hands of every parent. Evidence shows that boosting early maths has long-term payoffs in attainment, employability, and economic participation.

But this isn’t about worksheets or formal lessons. It’s about play, language, rhythm, and curiosity. Babies and toddlers learn best when they explore with their hands, their voices, and their parents by their side. By pointing out patterns, comparing sizes, and celebrating those “1-2-4” counting mistakes, parents are building problem-solving skills, confidence, and focus.

In other words: early maths builds future thinkers. It helps children see the world in patterns, connections, and possibilities - the very skills they’ll need as tomorrow’s innovators, engineers, scientists, and creators.

Through Babyzone Everyday Maths, we’ll be supporting families to notice these magical learning opportunities, equipping them with increased confidence as well as the skills and tools to replicate the learning at home - reminding them that every parent is their child’s first maths teacher.

This year, around 40% of young people did not pass Maths or English GCSE. It is a statistic that alarms employers, concerns policymakers and drives philanthropists to invest in educational solutions. The roots of this challenge start much earlier - in the critical years between birth and five.

At Babyzone, we’re working to build the next generation of problem-solvers.

Behind the Headlines 📰

30-Hour Offer Risks Widening Disadvantage Gap in Early Years Education Access

Eligibility criteria for the 30-hour funded early education offer mean disadvantaged families pay up to £205 per week for nursery places, while advantaged peers receive triple the government-funded provision by school age. This exacerbates attainment gaps, highlighting the urgent need for universal access and more inclusive childcare policies.

Addressing Low Pay Is Key to Achieving Government Early Years Ambitions

Early years staff earn 36% less than peers in comparable sectors, leading to high turnover and recruitment challenges. Government funding is crucial for enabling competitive pay to attract and retain qualified personnel, ensuring the success of expanded childcare entitlements and improved early education quality.

Data Shows 100,000 Children in Poverty Lack Access to Vital Family Hubs

Around 100,000 children under five in England, living in relative poverty, lack practical access to family hubs that provide essential early years support. Nesta’s analysis advocates for using precise, neighbourhood-level data to ensure eCommerce investment in new hubs reaches underserved children most effectively. This evidence-informed approach could significantly improve childhood development outcomes in deprived areas.

Research & Insights 🔬

Cross-Sector Organisations Call For Urgent Investment In Early Years Funding

Leading early years and education organisations warn that government underfunding threatens the viability of expanded childcare provision, citing rising costs, staff shortages and service reductions. Their open letter urges immediate increased investment to ensure sustainable, high-quality services for families and children nationwide. Action is essential for fulfilling government childcare commitments.

Children Are Not Percentages Rethinking the Good Level of Development in Education

The GLD assessment in early years settings over-simplifies children’s progress by reducing complex development to a single benchmark, disregarding individual backgrounds, special needs, age variation, and personal achievements. This not only pressures educators to focus narrowly on metrics but also creates unnecessary anxiety for parents and professionals. Rethinking GLD to value contextual progress, use qualitative assessment, and prioritise children’s holistic development is vital for more accurate and humane early years education.

Global Perspectives 🌎

Momentum Builds: Global Leaders Unite for Early Years

The Act For Early Years campaign, launched by Theirworld, is gaining global momentum with backing from over 150 organisations and high-profile supporters. Its goal: mobilise $1 billion for early childhood initiatives and secure commitments at the UN General Assembly.

Governments are stepping up—Brazil has launched a new national early years policy, South Africa pledged $500m, the Philippines is funding 328 child centres, and Jordan has introduced its first childcare policy. Ukraine is also embedding early years into its reconstruction plans. With 350 million children lacking childcare, the campaign’s “Minifesto” calls on leaders to prioritise the first five years.