Exploring maths through ramp play with Young Minds Big Maths

In Young Minds Big Maths, university mathematicians and early years educators collaborate to explore mathematics. We discuss how the project led us to create a booklet to help educators discover maths through play in their settings. The booklet uses real-life examples of ramp play—something children love—to show how building and experimenting with ramps reveals rich mathematical ideas. Read the article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/exploring-maths-through-ramp-play-with-young-minds-big-maths/ This episode is sponsored by Funding Loop Funding Loop automates the process for nurseries of collecting funding forms from parents and typing that information into council portals. Funding Loop is used by over 2000 nurseries including over 80% of the top 25 nursery chains in the UK including Busy Bees. To find out more visit: https://www.fundingloop.co.uk/home Our 2026 conference info & tickets: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2026/ Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: · Elevating children's thinking: Conceptual understanding through inquiry and play, by Sue Tee - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/elevating-childrens-thinking-conceptual-understanding-through-inquiry-and-play/ · Promoting STEAM in early years: It's easier than you think! By Paula Walshe - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/promoting-steam-in-early-years-its-easier-than-you-think/ · What's the problem with tuff tray maths? By Shardi Vaziri - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/whats-the-problem-with-tuff-tray-maths/ Get in touch and share your voice: Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/ Episode break down: Episode breakdown: 00:00 – Welcome & podcast intro 01:20 – Setting the scene: young minds, big maths through play 01:42 – Meet Rachel, Catherine and Sarah 02:24 – About the nursery schools and community context 02:51 – How the collaboration with a mathematician began 06:27 – Maths as the "dirtiest lens" in the EYFS 07:25 – Starting with patterns in nature and children's interest in circles 09:55 – Meeting the mathematicians & a new model of CPD 16:37 – Moving into ramp play as a focus for maths learning 17:11 – Ramp play across different settings 22:54 – The rich mathematics in ramp play (angles, variables, data) 26:55 – Children's own ways of measuring and defining 32:28 – Children's questions, language and ongoing learning for educators 35:14 – Being brave: advice for starting collaborations 40:34 – Three key ideas from the project 41:28 – Ramp play booklet 41:51 – Closing reflections & invitation to share your own maths-through-play stories For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com