In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon speaks with headteacher and mastery specialist Omar Jennings about how Number Talks have transformed teaching and learning across his school – from Nursery to Year 6.

We explore:

✔️ What Number Talks are and why they matter

✔️ How they boost fluency, reasoning and oracy

✔️ Practical tips for rolling them out across your school

✔️ The importance of vocabulary (yes, even in EYFS!)

✔️ Why strong pedagogy matters more than any scheme

✔️ Embedding sustainable change in maths teaching

✔️ The power of relationships, looping, and knowing your pupils

If you're a maths leader, classroom teacher or head looking for evidence-informed, practical ways to improve maths teaching across your school, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

📥 Get the free companion guide (key takeaways, resources, CPD video): https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/twinkl-podcasts/primary-maths-education-podcast-twinkl-podcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

• Making Number Talks Matter by Humphreys & Parker
• Designing Groupwork by Elizabeth Cohen
• Visible Learning for Maths by John Hattie
• Making Thinking Visible (Harvard Project Zero)
• NCETM resources, and more

In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, we explore the unique joys and challenges of teaching maths in small schools and mixed-age classes. Jon Cripwell and Becky Brown reflect on their conversation with two inspiring educators whose work spans classroom teaching, national leadership, and system-wide school improvement.

👥 Our guests:

• Aimée Tinkler has been a teacher and school leader for over 20 years, including 8 years as a headteacher in Derbyshire. She is President-elect of the Chartered College of Teaching, engaged in doctoral research at UCL Institute of Education, and the author of Small and Mighty – Conversations about Small Schools (publishing this autumn).
• Helen Bowen has over 13 years of experience in primary education, including roles as class teacher, lead practitioner, and headteacher. A passionate maths educator, she is a Primary Mastery Specialist and Local Leader in Maths Education with the GLOW Maths Hub and is now Director of Mathematics at Excelsior Multi Academy Trust.

🧠 Topics covered include:

• How to adapt the mastery approach for mixed-age classrooms
• The power of oracy and reasoning talk in maths
• Structuring consistent maths teaching without rigid schemes
• The vital role of teaching assistants in small schools
• Leadership and collaboration in multi-role staff settings

🔍 Also in this episode:

• 🧩 Becky’s deep dive into competitive speed jigsaw puzzling (yes, it’s a thing!)
• 🔢 Maths of Life: Why we count in base 10—and what other number bases you're secretly using every day

🛠 Resource of the Week:

The Twinkl Maths App – a gamified fluency tool aligned with the Ready to Progress criteria. Great for interventions, rewards effort, and works brilliantly in small school settings.

📥 Free downloadable PDF with key takeaways, CPD clips and resources:

Search for Primary Maths Podcast at twinkl.co.uk.

📧 Feedback or questions?

Email us at primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

🔜 Next week’s episode:

Jon speaks to Omar Jennings, headteacher at Nightingale Primary in London, about how Number Talks are transforming oracy and conceptual understanding.

In this episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky are joined by John Tomsett, renowned education consultant, former headteacher of Huntington School, and author of influential books such as "This Much I Know About Great Teaching".

John brings decades of educational leadership and classroom experience to an insightful conversation about the true essence of great teaching and learning. He shares his "10 principles of great teaching," drawing from extensive observations and research across primary and secondary classrooms.

• The core principles that define truly exceptional teaching.
• How to balance rigorous frameworks with teacher autonomy and creativity.
• Building strong, meaningful relationships with pupils.
• Insights into misconceptions in maths education and how teachers can effectively address them.
• Real-life stories illustrating the profound impact great teachers can have.

• What makes lessons genuinely engaging for pupils?
• How can teachers balance consistency with creativity and enthusiasm?
• What critical skills and practices define outstanding teaching?

• The Hidden Lives of Learners by Graham Nuthall
• WalkThrus by Tom Sherrington and Oliver Caviglioli
• John Tomsett's books, including forthcoming titles on primary and secondary teaching

• John Tomsett’s Blog
• Twitter: @johntomsett

Remember to subscribe to The Primary Maths Podcast wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a review if you enjoyed this episode!

In our very first episode, we’re joined by Dr Heidi Kirkland - teacher, researcher, and co-author of Maths Anxiety: Solving the Equation - to explore why even confident mathematicians can feel anxious about maths, and what we can do about it in the classroom.

We chat about:

• Why self-belief matters more than ability
• What anxiety might look like in a maths lesson (spoiler: not always what you expect)
• The role of language, teacher behaviour, and culture in shaping confidence
• How to build a classroom where all learners feel safe to think, try and talk about maths
• Heidi’s experiences of teaching abroad and launching her platform, Mindful Maths

🧮 The Maths of Life

Jon and Becky explore real-world maths moments: booking holidays abroad, dodging dodgy exchange rates, and working out the perimeter of the Isle of Wight while stuck in a ferry queue.

🛠️ Resource of the Week

This week’s pick: Mastering the Mountain – a Twinkl Originals picture book for KS2, designed to open up conversations about maths anxiety through storytelling.

📚Visit ‘Mastering the Mountain’ on Twinkl to read the ebook and access accompanying resources.

💬 Join the Conversation

Have a maths anxiety story or a question for Heidi, Jon or Becky? Email us at: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

🔗 Links

Find Heidi on LinkedIn

Her website, mentioned on the episode: Mindful Maths

📅 New episodes every Tuesday during term time, brought to you by Jon Cripwell (Primary National Education Lead for Primary Maths and Becky Brown, Educational Content Lead at Twinkl Educational Publishing.

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