Eleanor Cockerton is a lecturer on the Primary PGCE course with a subject responsibility for Mathematics and History. She has many years experience in teaching throughout the Primary age range but has specialised in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Her interests are in early mathematical thinking and keeping learning alive for boys. She recently led a workshop as part of a mathematics conference in Malo, Italy. At present she is working with Anne Cockburn, Ralph Manning and Paul Parslow Williams on a research project to establish how we can encourage trainee teachers to maximise the children’s mathematical thinking and reduce the opportunities for misconceptions.