Expanding Access to Maths Through Play
A friendly maths club where children can build confidence, spark curiosity and enjoy exploring maths through play, discovery and hands-on activities
Hi, I’m Alice!
I am Alice Ruvera, the founder of Number Berries Maths Play Club. I created Number Berries because I believe children deserve a different experience of mathematics, one that is playful, inclusive and encourages them to think for themselves.
My background in finance and governance has shaped my approach to problem-solving, questioning ideas and finding different ways forward. My experience as a parent led me to apply that thinking to children’s learning and ask how we could give children more opportunities to explore mathematics in ways that work for them.
Number Berries grew from that idea. I developed activities, worked with children and families, listened, learned and continued to shape the club around what I saw children needed.
I see an opportunity to do things differently, and I put the idea into action. That is what Number Berries is about: creating a maths experience that children enjoy, parents believe in and that can change how children feel about mathematics.
What is Number Berries Maths Play Club
Number Berries Maths Play Club is a playful, mixed-age maths community for children preschool and primary school. I created it to give children a different experience of mathematics, where they can explore ideas through play, hands-on activities, problem-solving and collaboration.
It is for children who love maths, find it difficult, lack confidence or simply learn differently. I want every child to have the opportunity to enjoy mathematics, develop their thinking and discover that maths is for them.
Why I Started Number Berries Maths Play Club
The idea for Number Berries Maths Play Club came from my experience as a parent. My daughter was struggling at primary school because her learning needs were not being fully supported. She was losing confidence, falling behind and, most importantly, she was no longer enjoying learning.
It made me question whether some children struggle with maths because they cannot learn it, or because they have not been given the right opportunities to learn in a way that works for them.
I began exploring how children could experience maths through play, experimentation, conversation and collaboration. I wanted to create opportunities for children to approach mathematics in different ways, at their own level and with the support of others.
When I started creating these experiences, I saw children become more engaged, more willing to participate and more confident in sharing their ideas. That experience became the foundation of Number Berries Maths Play Club.
What We Do & How It Works
We normalise maths in the real world
Children explore numbers, measure, patterns, and data through hands-on activities.
We make maths talk visible
We support parents and carers with simple prompts to build vocabulary and reasoning.
We keep it playful and low-pressure
Games and “have-a-go” tasks build confidence and encourage persistence.
We learn by doing
Through games, challenges, building activities, and storytelling.
We create a whole-family learning space
From younger siblings to grandparents, everyone can join in, find something to do, and talk about the maths together.
My Approach
Build Confidence
Games and Exploration
Solve Problems
Creative Challenges
Engage Families
Learning Together
Make It Accessible
Ages 5-11