Nursery maths challenge raises money for NSPCC

This year's fundraising day takes place on 5 December in order to encourage learning through maths, while raising money to help children across the UK.

Number Day aims to help nurseries and schools to create engaging and interactive maths lessons alongside fundraising activities to support the NSPCC’s work against child cruelty.

Denise Derbyshire, NSPCC head of schools fundraising, said that pupils of all ages will be involved with Number Day. ‘This year we are excited to be introducing some new Oxford University Press activities, starting from early years.’

There are activities to cater for children of all ages, such as Dress Up for Digits, where children are encouraged to wear an item of clothing with a number on it to school in exchange for a small donation.

Claire Breen, vice principal of Tor Bank Special School, said, ‘Last year everyone got involved in the NSPCC’s Number Day with Dress Up for Digits – even the teachers and school staff got dressed up and we had a fabulous time.’

The NSPCC’s other ideas for fundraising, include Musical Numbers, for which pupils have a sponsored sing-along to their favourite number songs. There is also Measuring Mayhem, which involves pupils carefully measuring ingredients to make cakes for a bake sale.

Other suggestions can be found in downloadable resources that are available to schools that have registered for Number Day through the NSPCC website.

The money raised from the Number Day scheme will go towards funding the NSPCC’s child protection schemes, which include ChildLine. Last year schools collectively raised £150,000 and the NSPCC want to beat this figure with its 2014 event.

• To register your early years setting visit www.nspcc.org.uk/numberday. The curriculum-based maths resources will be available for download to all those that register from October.