Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs Let's Count: building early numeracy skills
Children who start school behind in key areas like numeracy often stay behind. And the gap between them and their peers widens as they progress through school.
Children experiencing disadvantage can fall behind in the classroom. Without intervention, they can continue to fall further behind as each school year progresses – and by the time they’re 15 years old, these students are on average two to three years behind their peers.
This matters. Achievement in Year 9 strongly predicts later success in areas like education and work2. And having good early numeracy skills is strongly associated with other positive outcomes, including life satisfaction, and even physical and mental health3 – things we all want.
That’s why getting the basics right at an early age is so important. Setting a child up for a good start to school helps them build the foundations needed for a lifetime of achievement. This is where our Let’s Count program can help.
...it was a nice reminder, just how simple maths things can be at home and uncomplicated and immediate in your environment around you.
I wish that everybody had the opportunity to do Let’s Count, because I’ve just seen such big improvement in the children’s concepts of maths and preparing them for school next year …
Let’s Count: building strong foundations
Let’s Count is an early mathematics program designed to build strong foundations in numeracy. Developed by The Smith Family, Professor Bob Perry (Charles Sturt University) and Associate Professor Ann Gervasoni (Monash University), the program focuses on children aged three to five years to familiarise them with numeracy through simple, everyday situations. This prepares them for the school years ahead.
The program recognises education as a powerful tool for positive change in a child’s life. It is built on the understanding that everyone – children, their parents and carers – can be a mathematician with the right help.
Let’s Count Revision 2020-2021 : Literature Review and Snapshot
In 2020-2021, together with our key stakeholders Peridot Education and the Stronger Smarter Institute, we reviewed the latest research and developments in early years learning and early years maths learning and Indigenous Knowledge with the aim to ensure that Let’s Count includes the latest learnings and is appropriate for all cultural backgrounds.
Download the quick Literature Review Snapshot
Our success so far
Let’s Count has been running for more than ten years. In that time, we have helped early-years professionals and parents across the country to support children as they begin to develop their numeracy skills.
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92%
of educators reported Improved capacity to work with parents/carers to support children’s numeracy after completing their training for the program. -
88%
of educators noted increased confidence in helping their students with mathematical development after their first training session for the program.
For early years professionals
Our award winning program supports your professional development
Let's Count is a practical and tangible professional learning opportunity for Early Years Professionals available via face to face workshops or via our online learning portal.
Since its launch in 2009, Let’s Count has positively impacted over 168,000 children, parents and Early Years Professionals throughout Australia. To underpin its credibility, the program aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework and meets National Quality Standard requirements.
Download the Let’s Count Facebook Messenger bot resources for Early Years Professionals below
Online learning
In 2019, Let’s Count Online was awarded Silver for Best eLearning Design in the category of Free eLearning Resources by LearnX. It is practical, tangible and fun consisting of two self-guided online modules that can be completed in your own time and at your own pace.
Face to face workshops
These involve the following:
- One full day Face to Face Workshop (7 hours)
- Followed by a 4-6 week Implementation Period for you to try the Let’s Count pedagogies and practices by engaging and supporting the families in your service.
- Concluded with an Online Interactive Session & Certificate (3hrs) Let's Count expert-led learning session including sharing ideas, learnings and experience with your peers.
For more information and to register for our face to face workshops please write to letscountprogram@thesmithfamily.com.au.
For parents and families
The Let's Count Facebook Messenger Bot
The Let's Count Facebook Messenger bot is an interactive platform that uses everyday activities and objects to suggest ways in which parents and carers can support their children’s math's learning, like counting the change and weighing the fruit whilst out shopping.
The activities are all designed to help children to notice, explore and talk about mathematics.
Supported by funding from BOQ and the Department of Education.
Let's Count Resources
On this page you will find a range of Let’s Count Resources you can download and use or share.
Our learning programs
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs
Our work engages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in learning through education, life skills and role models, promoting culturally responsive practice. -
Arts programs
Providing students living with disadvantage access to arts programs to help support students'; engagement with school by increasing their creative skills, self-confidence, social networks and knowledge of post-school options. -
Community programs
We partner with government, schools, families, and other service providers to improve educational outcomes for children. -
Financial programs
We offer financial programs for parents facing disadvantage and an interactive high school program, building youth financial literacy, decision-making skills, and future awareness. -
School transition programs
Providing help for students transition from primary to high school by enhancing their skills, knowledge, and attitude for the new learning environment. -
Learning Clubs
After-school Learning Clubs give children help with literacy homework in a safe, supportive environment, encouraging children to better engage with their learning. -
Learning for Life
Learning for Life is an innovative, evidence-based program that supports students throughout their education to achieve positive long-term outcomes for young people experiencing disadvantage. -
Literacy programs
Providing resources and support to help children living with disadvantage achieve the required reading standard. -
Mentoring programs
Mentoring programs for students living with disadvantage that provide the encouragement they need to build aspirations for their future. -
Mentoring programs
Mentoring programs for students living with disadvantage that provide the encouragement they need to build aspirations for their future. -
Numeracy programs
We support early years educators and community professionals in building foundational math skills in children under their care. -
Technology programs
Providing children and young people living with disadvantage with the critical skills, access, and equipment they need. -
Work experience programs
We provide work experience programs for students living with disadvantage, to help them explore their future career options and potential job opportunities.
The Let’s Count program has been proudly supported by the following partners:
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1 Shuey, E. and M. Kankaraš, M. (2018). The Power and Promise of Early Learning. OECD Education Working Papers, no. 186, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/f9b2e53f-en.
2 Goss, P. and Sonnemann, J. (2016). Widening Gaps: What NAPLAN tells us about student progress. Grattan Institute.
3 Widening Gaps: What NAPLAN tells us about student progress. p. 1
2 Goss, P. and Sonnemann, J. (2016). Widening Gaps: What NAPLAN tells us about student progress. Grattan Institute.
3 Widening Gaps: What NAPLAN tells us about student progress. p. 1