Rishi Sunak & Akshata Murty Visit Babyzone to Celebrate Everyday Maths Programme
Earlier this month, Babyzone had the honour of welcoming Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty to Babyzone Hammersmith & Fulham. Their visit shone a spotlight on the importance of early years maths and the transformative role it can play in shaping children’s futures.
A national spotlight on early maths
During their time with families, Rishi and Akshata joined in activities and heard directly from parents about the impact of our new Everyday Maths programme. “Babyzone is a great example of a community organisation that is making a real difference in the local area,” said Rishi. Akshata highlighted the broader cultural shift that initiatives like Babyzone are helping to drive: “It is wonderful to see how families are coming together to have fun with numbers, and ultimately that will help bring about the cultural change we are looking for.”
Their words capture what we at Babyzone believe passionately: that early maths is not about rote memorisation, but about building confidence, curiosity and the ability to see numbers as a natural part of everyday life.
Why early maths matters
Research shows that exposing children to maths in their earliest years changes the architecture of the brain, strengthening executive functions like problem-solving, reasoning and planning. Studies consistently demonstrate that maths readiness at age five is a stronger predictor of later academic success than early reading skills.
Beyond school, the effects last a lifetime. Children who build strong maths foundations early on are more likely to have higher earning potential, greater job security and broader career choices as adults. In short, maths skills are life skills.
Inside Babyzone Everyday Maths
Our Everyday Maths programme was designed to give children aged 0 to 5 these crucial foundations, while empowering parents to notice and use “maths moments” in daily life.
Each week, themed sessions bring numbers alive through play, songs, stories and hands-on exploration. For example, in our Tea Party for Three session, children celebrate a puppet’s birthday by setting out three plates, three hats and three candles, before singing together and blowing out the candles. Through this joyful routine, children are introduced to counting, sets and positional language in ways that feel natural and fun.
The curriculum strands cover number sense, shape and space, patterns and relationships, and everyday maths talk. Parents are encouraged to embed maths into routines, whether counting steps on the way to nursery, comparing fruit sizes while shopping, or spotting patterns on clothes and in nature.
Importantly, the programme also tackles maths anxiety among adults. Many parents carry negative experiences of maths from their own schooling. By showing how simple and playful maths can be, we help families build confidence and model a positive attitude that children absorb.
Families at the heart
Parents who joined the visit spoke powerfully about what maths means to them. One mum, an accountant, described her excitement at giving her children the confidence with numbers they will need in all areas of life. A dad reflected on how maths had opened life-changing opportunities for him, and how he wants to pass the same gift on to his son.
These personal stories underline why Babyzone exists: to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the chance to thrive in the critical early years.
Building a brighter future together
Rishi Sunak & Akshata Murty's visit has put a national spotlight on the work being done in our hubs across the country. But it is the daily commitment of parents, carers and children that truly drives the change. By making maths a playful and integral part of family life, we are laying the foundations not just for school readiness, but for lifelong confidence and success.
As Babyzone expands into more communities, our mission remains clear: to reimagine early years education so that every child has the tools to unlock their potential.
Learn more
🎥 Watch the video of Rishi and Akshata’s visit here.
📖 Read our report, The Crucial Role of Early Mathematics Education, to explore the research behind Everyday Maths and why starting early matters so much.