Written for those who work with pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties, this practical book uniquely describes content for a special curriculum in maths, and looks at how early ideas develop and become real knowledge, essential to daily function. Les Staves explains recent theories about the early development of understanding numbers, including a breakdown of the processes of learning to count which are largely neglected in the National Curriculum. He also outlines the ‘big ideas’ that are fundamental to the beginnings of mathematical thinking for children with severe and profound learning difficulties, which are vital to carrying out practical mathematical processes.