The Flip-String to 20 is a tactile beadstring maths manipulative from Autopress Education that helps children and learners with SEND build number sense, counting skills, and an understanding of numbers 1 to 20 through concrete, hands-on exploration. Suitable for EYFS through to KS2 and for any learner who benefits from physical, multi-sensory maths support, it is equally at home in the classroom and on the kitchen table. Twenty brightly coloured tiles are threaded onto a high-quality 52cm cord. The tiles are arranged in distinct colour groups of five, which encourages subitising - the ability to recognise a quantity at a glance without needing to count each item individually. Each tile measures 2.2 x 2.2cm and is printed with a numeral from 1 to 20 on one side, with a plain blank reverse. This flip function allows teachers and parents to hide and reveal numbers, creating simple but effective activities for ordering, identifying missing numbers, and practising number recognition without relying on worksheets. For schools and classrooms Multi-sensory maths support: the combination of colour coding, physical movement, and number recognition makes this resource effective for learners who struggle with abstract number concepts. Flexible for differentiation: the blank reverse means the same resource can be used as a number line visible tool or as a hide-and-reveal challenge, supporting different levels within one class. Fits Quality First Teaching and SEN provision: works well as a concrete manipulative within a structured maths intervention or as a low-key desk resource for learners with SEND. Supports EHCP targets: particularly relevant for children with targets around number sense, counting, and mathematical reasoning. Suitable from EYFS to KS2: appropriate for early years settings, Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, and as a support tool for older learners in KS2 who have not yet secured number sense to 20. For parents and home use Simple to use at home: no instructions needed - children naturally pick it up, flip tiles, and explore numbers at their own pace. Builds confidence gently: the tactile, playful format takes the pressure off formal number work, helping children engage with counting and ordering without it feeling like a test. Supports homework and home maths practice: a useful companion for children who find written number work difficult, giving them a concrete tool to count on rather than relying solely on memory. Age-appropriate for children aged 3 to 9: accessible for younger children starting to learn to count, and still valuable for older children who need continued support with number to 20. Learners with general SEND, dyscalculia, and working memory difficulties often find abstract number work frustrating because they cannot easily hold number sequences in their mind. The Flip-String to 20 addresses this directly by making numbers visible, moveable, and colour-coded. The grouping of tiles into fives supports the development of subitising, which research in early mathematics education consistently identifies as a foundation skill for number fluency. Physical manipulation of the string gives learners a kinaesthetic anchor that supports counting, ordering, and basic addition and subtraction far more effectively than pencil-and-paper tasks alone. Whether you are a SENCO building a maths toolkit for your intervention room, a class teacher looking for a concrete resource to support a pupil with SEND at their desk, or a parent wanting a practical and engaging way to support your child's number learning at home, the Flip-String to 20 is a straightforward, durable, and highly versatile tool that earns its place in any maths resource collection.
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