Hollie Mayes Educational Design

Hollie Mayes Educational Design 🧸 Designing spaces rooted in educational philosophies
✨ Experts in childhood development
šŸ’Œ DM for online & in-person consultations

03/09/2026

Numicon tiles help your childĀ see what multiplication actually meansĀ before they have to memorise their times tables.

Multiplication is repeated addition, and Numicon gives children a concrete example of what can otherwise feel like a very abstract concept. They can physically build equal groups, put the quantities together and see how the numbers relate to one another.

It’s about helping childrenĀ understand the maths first, then memorise the number facts.

CommentĀ NUMIĀ below and I’ll send you the link to the set we use at home. I love using these at weekends, after school or during the holidays to keep maths skills ticking over without it feeling like extra schoolwork.

02/09/2026

Numicon tiles let your child see multiplication before they ever have to recite it. Lay out groups of tiles that correspond with the numbers you’re multiplying and count the holes together to find the answer.

The shapes make grouping, arrays and even doubling visual, so the number facts actually make sense instead of just being memorised.

Grab your own set at home by commenting NUMI below. I love using these on weekends, afternoons when the kids are home or during long breaks to keep their skills sharp.

The IKEA catalog makes it look so easy. And it can be tempting to try and recreate that setup room for room, right befor...
31/08/2026

The IKEA catalog makes it look so easy. And it can be tempting to try and recreate that setup room for room, right before the new school year starts.

But the pieces that actually set your child up for a strong start aren’t always the obvious ones...

That’s exactly why I put this list together, so you can set the space up right before the school year begins, not scramble to fix it in week three.

Comment IKEA and I’ll send you the links directly šŸ¤

28/08/2026

One unused corner. A puppet theatre, a magnetic whiteboard, and a roleplay zone that work beautifully together or completely independently.

You don’t need a dedicated playroom to create intentional learning spaces at home. You just need the right corner and a little guidance. Designed smartly, even the smallest space can set your child up for a brilliant school year.

Comment CONSULT if you’d like to create something like this in your home, together šŸ¤

5 back to school books I recommend as a mum and teacher šŸ‘‡šŸ¼1ļøāƒ£ My Mummy’s Secret Adventures by Helen Farmer2ļøāƒ£ The Kissin...
27/08/2026

5 back to school books I recommend as a mum and teacher šŸ‘‡šŸ¼

1ļøāƒ£ My Mummy’s Secret Adventures by Helen Farmer
2ļøāƒ£ The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
3ļøāƒ£ The Colour Monster Goes To School by Anna Llenas
4ļøāƒ£ Invisible Things by Anna J. Pizza and Sophie Millers
5ļøāƒ£ The Worry Balloon by Mónica Mancillas

As both a teacher and a parent, I know that going back to school brings up a lot for little ones.

New classrooms, new teachers, new friendships, and all the big feelings that come with them.

Reading together before the school year begins is one of the simplest ways to open those conversations. The right book gives children the language for what they’re feeling before they ever have to find the words themselves.

These five are the ones I come back to every single year. Comment BTS and I’ll send my full reading list šŸ¤

25/08/2026

Mums, do this before school starts to make life a little easier šŸ¤

The routines that feel hard in September usually come down to the setup, not the child. Three small shifts now save you the daily nagging over lost supplies, boredom meltdowns, and morning chaos once term starts.

Comment CONSULT below if you’re not sure how to set these up in your own space for a 1:1 consultation to get you started, or book a full eDesign with me no matter where you are in the world šŸŒŽ

22/08/2026

Comment CONSULT if you want help setting up a space that works for the whole school year.

Back to school prep isn’t just about the backpack and the lunchbox. It’s a great time to reset their spaces too.

Before term starts, I always encourage my clients to look at these areas before the school year begins. Smart changes and setups now save you a lot of chaos come September.

19/08/2026

Comment BTS and I’ll send you my full back to school reading list straight to your DMs šŸ“š

Books are one of the most powerful ways to teach children the things that matter most.

These stories are all about helping and sharing. The same values that shape how a child shows up in a classroom, makes friends, navigates conflict, and learns to think about others before themselves.

The best thing you can do before the school year begins? Get these on their shelf šŸ¤

17/08/2026

Comment ART and I’ll send you my full list of art corner essentials that will keep little ones busy for hours this summer, straight to your DMs šŸ¤

You’ve bought everything, set it all up beautifully, and five minutes later they’re bored and you’re no closer to finishing your coffee.

Sound familiar? You’re not doing anything wrong. The setup just needs two small tweaks that make all the difference in how a child actually engages with a space. So simple you can do both today.

15/08/2026

Comment NUMI and I’ll send you the link to grab these before the school year starts šŸ‘‡šŸ¼

Numicon tiles are one of the first things I recommend to every family I work with.

Here we’re using them to practise number bonds and making tens, and the reason they work so well is simple. Children can see the numbers, touch them, and physically fit the pieces together.

Abstract concepts stop being confusing the moment they become something a child can hold in their hands. And once it clicks, it stays with them.

Address

Sharjah

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hollie Mayes Educational Design posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Hollie Mayes Educational Design:

Shortcuts

Share