Hello and welcome to this interview episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, the show where we talk all things primary maths. I’m Jon Cripwell.

In this episode, I’m joined by Paula Fieldhouse for a wide-ranging conversation about financial literacy, parental engagement, and what it really means to prepare children for the financial decisions they will face later in life.

We explore what financial literacy actually is, beyond budgeting worksheets and coin recognition, and why children’s early experiences of money at home play such a powerful role in shaping their attitudes, confidence and behaviours. Paula shares insights from her research into how families talk about money, how inequality shows up long before formal financial education begins, and why schools on their own cannot solve this issue.

We also discuss common misconceptions, including the idea that financial education is something that can be bolted on later, or that it sits outside the maths curriculum. Paula explains why parental engagement matters so much, what meaningful support for families can look like, and how initiatives like Learning with Parents are helping to bridge the gap between home and school in a practical, respectful way.

This episode will be particularly relevant for teachers, maths leads and school leaders thinking about inclusion, equity and real-world application in mathematics, as well as anyone interested in how education systems can support families rather than work around them.

You can find out more about Paula’s work and connect with her on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-paula-fieldhouse-7291a6189

You can also explore the work of Learning with Parents at

https://learningwithparents.com

If you’d like to get in touch with the show, you can email us at

primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

You can connect with me on LinkedIn at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell

And you can follow me on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/joncripwellmaths/

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, subscribing, or leaving a review. It really helps more people find the podcast.

In this Aftermaths episode of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky return after the Easter break with a lighter, curiosity-driven conversation that blends real mathematics with everyday life.

Jon introduces a fascinating mathematical quirk known as Kaprekar’s constant. Starting with almost any four-digit number and following a simple process of rearranging and subtracting digits, you will always arrive at 6174. It is a brilliant example of how pattern, structure and curiosity can bring maths to life, and offers a simple but engaging classroom investigation.

The conversation then shifts into “Maths of Life”, as Becky shares a very relatable problem: calculating the area of an awkwardly shaped driveway. What follows is a great discussion about different ways to break down complex shapes, and how mathematical thinking allows us to approach the same problem in multiple valid ways.

Finally, Becky brings back “Etymathsology”, exploring the origins of mathematical language. This week includes the surprising Norse roots of the word “odd”, the evolution of “even”, and the historical meaning of “score” as a way of counting in twenties.

As ever, the episode is a reminder that maths is everywhere, from number curiosities to home improvements to the words we use every day.

If you enjoy the podcast, please follow, subscribe and leave a review. It really helps more people discover the show.

We always love hearing from you. If you’ve spotted some maths in your everyday life, get in touch and we might feature it in a future episode.

Email: primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk

Jon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell/

Substack: https://primarymathspodcast.substack.com/

In this Easter special of The Primary Maths Podcast, Jon and Becky take a slightly lighter turn while still keeping one foot firmly in the world of maths. Recorded on Good Friday, the episode reflects on the welcome arrival of the Easter break and the importance of slowing down after a busy term.

The conversation explores a familiar classroom question: what do we do with seasonal contexts like Easter? Jon and Becky discuss the difference between simply dressing up maths with a theme and genuinely finding the mathematics within real-life situations. From hot cross buns to chocolate eggs, they consider how context can support engagement, while also reflecting on the challenge of finding time to explore it properly.

There is, of course, an Easter quiz. Jon puts Becky on the spot with a series of statistics, including how many Easter eggs are eaten in the UK each year, the scale of chocolate production and the surprisingly specific history of the first chocolate eggs in Britain. Expect a mix of sensible estimates, near misses and the occasional wildly inaccurate guess.

Along the way, the episode returns to a key idea that runs through the podcast: maths is everywhere. Even if there is not always time to build a full lesson around it, simply noticing and talking about the maths in everyday life can make a real difference.

To finish, Jon and Becky share their Easter preferences, reflect on how traditions have changed, and make a strong case for bringing back Easter eggs that come with a mug.

If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss one. You can join the conversation on LinkedIn and catch the Friday Takeaway on Substack for practical ideas from each episode.

Subscribe on Substack: https://primarymathspodcast.substack.com/

Connect with Jon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joncripwell/