Nurseries in London are set to gain free access to evidence-based early years maths and language training.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has secured funding from the Mercers’ Company’s Early Years Special Initiative, which aims to support numeracy, literacy and language skills in two- to five-year-olds in the capital.

The funding will give 200 settings across 18 London boroughs the opportunity to access the NDNA’s Maths Champions and Language and Communication Champions programmes over four years.

In the first year, 45 Maths Champions programmes and 15 Language and Communication Champions programmes will be delivered to boroughs ranked highest on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), including Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Islington, Newham and Tower Hamlets. 

Settings in boroughs ranked between two and four on the IMD will be able to access 45 Maths Champions programmes and 15 Language and Communication Champions programmes in the second year and 30 Maths Champions programmes and 10 Language and Communication Champions programmes in the third and fourth years.

An evaluation of the Maths Champions programme found children made on average three months’ additional progress in maths and language development compared to children who had not taken part in the programme.

Purnima Tanuku, NDNA chief executive, said: “We developed the Maths Champions and Language and Communication Champions programmes to make a real difference to children’s learning and outcomes in maths and literacy by enhancing practitioners’ knowledge and confidence in teaching early maths and literacy. Supporting all children to reach their full potential, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds is crucial and now more early years settings in Greater London will be able to benefit from it.”  

Serena Hedley-Dent, deputy clerk of the Mercers’ Company, said: “The Mercers’ Company, as trustee of the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington, are delighted to be supporting the NDNA with its early years Maths and Communication and Language Champions programme.  This support is part of the Early Years Special Initiative which supports organisations to address the attainment gap in young children by improving school readiness and increasing their numeracy, literacy and language skills.  We look forward to working with the NDNA over the next four years.”