Back, J. and Joubert, M. (2009) Reflecting on practice in early years’ settings: developing teachers’ understandings of children’s early mathematics. Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics 29(1) March 2009, 14-18.

This article presents some of the findings of the Researching Effective Ontinuing Professional Development in Mathematics Education (RECME) Project. It focuses on a Children’s Mathematics Network Group in Bristol, a grassroots group that was owned and developed by teachers and practitioners. The group’s informal meetings impacted on the teachers’ and practitioners’ thinking and practice over time and changed their understanding of young children’s mathematical thinking and representations. Elizabeth Carruthers and Maulfry Worthington promote Early Years Children’s Mathematics Network Groups through the Children’s Mathematics Network.

NOTE: The pseudonyms ‘Melanie’ and ‘Lizzy’ in the article refer to Maulfry Worthington and Elizabeth Carruthers.