Reception Maths Autumn Block 1

EYFS Autumn Block 1 – Baseline Assessment for Reception Maths

Explore our EYFS Autumn Block 1 baseline assessment resources, designed to support Reception teachers following the White Rose EYFS maths progression. This block helps you assess children’s early number and shape understanding at the start of the year, providing a clear snapshot of their existing maths knowledge.

Each pack includes:

  • Baseline-style maths activities tailored to EYFS
  • Clear assessment guidance and early learning checklists
  • Practical tasks to explore early number sense, sorting and comparing
  • Simple, teacher-friendly formats that are quick to interpret

These Reception baseline maths activities are ideal for use during the first few weeks of the Autumn term and link closely to Development Matters and the Early Learning Goals.

Explore our full EYFS maths scheme of work for weekly lesson plans, interactive slides and differentiated activities from Autumn Block 2 onwards.

Understanding the EYFS maths baseline

The EYFS maths baseline is an informal assessment used to understand each child’s early mathematical knowledge at the start of Reception. It’s not a test, but a way for teachers to observe what children can do with number, counting, sorting and shape through a mix of play and adult-guided tasks.

Our EYFS Autumn Block 1 baseline assessment resources are designed to support this process. They include practical tasks and prompts that align with early ELG-related expectations, with observation-friendly formats and simple record-keeping suggestions. These activities help Reception teachers build a clear picture of each child’s starting points in key maths areas, such as:

  • Counting with 1:1 correspondence
  • Comparing amounts
  • Sorting by colour, size and shape
  • Recognising simple patterns and quantities

These Reception baseline maths activities can be used flexibly alongside your usual classroom routines or as part of your White Rose EYFS maths progression. They support the Reception baseline assessment without placing pressure on pupils or relying on formal testing.

Browse the full EYFS maths scheme for complete weekly planning from Autumn Block 2 onwards.