Maths Chest

Maths Chest was published in the late 1980s to provide a structured primary scheme which runs from reception through to the end of primary education. It takes into account the needs of the subject, the constraints of a classroom teacher and the development, including language development, of the child at each stage. The aims of the scheme were to provide concrete activities to allow secure formation of concepts and develop understanding.

The scheme was written with the firm belief that children should enjoy mathematics therefore it includes many games and investigations designed to motivate and encourage self-confidence in learners. The activities are designed to encompass all abilities. It relies on a structured development where earliest stages of the scheme problems are set in a real world context so that language and mathematics are developed together. Verbal skills are developed before moving onto reading and written skills.

The scheme contains a wide range of activities and approaches ideas from several points of view thus ensuring that the needs of different types of learners are considered through the range of opportunities offered. The scheme begins with Maths Chest 1 aimed at Reception and ends with Maths Chest 7 aimed at Year Six, however needs of children should be assessed before selecting appropriate materials. It is organised into topic areas which follow a sequence laid out in the teacher notes.