What is the 1-20 Lacing Number Beads set?

The 1-20 Lacing Number Beads set is a tactile counting resource made by Educational Advantage, designed to help children with dyscalculia and other special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) build number sense by touching, threading and moving each bead. It gives children who find abstract number concepts difficult something physical to count, hold and check, turning counting to 20 into a hands-on activity rather than an exercise on paper.

Each set includes 80 beads in four colours, red, green, blue and yellow, and four 52cm laces, so a class or family can practise counting to 20 in more than one way at a time. The beads are printed on one side only, which means an adult can turn a bead number-side down so a child has to identify it by counting on or checking, rather than simply reading it off. At 2.5cm square, the beads are large enough for children who are still developing fine motor control to pick up, thread and hold securely.

For schools

• Gives a class four separate laces, so several children or small groups can count at the same time.
• Supports EHCP and SEND provision targets around number sense, one-to-one correspondence and counting to 20.
• The hidden-number method lets teachers turn a straightforward counting task into a checking or estimating task, without buying a second resource.
• Suits Early Years and Key Stage 1 settings, and works well as part of a graduated approach for pupils who need extra maths support in Key Stage 2.

For parents and home use

• Gives parents a screen-free, hands-on way to practise counting to 20 at home, alongside school work.
• The four separate colours make it easy to set simple sorting or pattern games as well as counting practice.
• Threading the beads onto the lace builds fine motor control at the same time as number skills.
• Durable enough to become a regular part of a child's home learning routine rather than a one-off activity.

For children with dyscalculia, number lines and page-based counting exercises can be hard to follow because the numbers stay abstract. The 1-20 Lacing Number Beads set gives a physical, movable alternative: each bead is a countable object a child can touch, recount and check, instead of holding a running total in their head. For children with a wider range of SEND, including those who learn best through concrete, multi-sensory materials, the combination of colour, touch and movement supports counting in more than one way within the same group.

Concrete manipulatives, such as countable objects on a string, are a widely used approach in SEND and dyscalculia support because they let children build number sense through touch and movement before moving on to abstract numerals.

Schools can add the 1-20 Lacing Number Beads set to existing SEND and maths resources with no preparation needed, and parents can start using it as soon as it arrives, working alongside whatever approach their child's school already uses.

• 80 number beads printed 1 to 20, in four colours (red, green, blue, yellow), giving four full sets for group or repeated use.
• 4 lacing strings, each 52cm long, so more than one child can thread and count at the same time.
• 2.5cm square beads, sized for children who are still developing fine motor control.
• Printed on one side only, so beads can be turned number-side down for identification, checking and estimating activities.
• 84 pieces in total (80 beads and 4 laces).
• Packaged dimensions: 18.5 x 13 x 3cm. Weight: 0.33kg.
• Age suitability: 3 years and above.
• BPA free.

• Turns counting into something you can touch. Eighty moveable beads let children with dyscalculia recount and check an answer instead of holding numbers in their head.
• One resource, several counting games. Four colours and four laces mean a class or family can count, sort and pattern with the same set.
• Built for small hands. Large 2.5cm beads are easier to grip and thread for children still developing fine motor control.
• BPA free and durable. Made to withstand repeated use across a class or family as a regular counting resource.

What's in the Box

• 80 x number beads (20 in each of red, green, blue and yellow)
• 4 x lacing strings, 52cm each

Care and Cleaning

Hand wash with a mild sterilising detergent.

Delivery and Returns

Standard UK delivery applies. See The Dyslexia Shop's Delivery and Returns page for full details.

Safety and Age Suitability

Contains small parts and long cords. Not suitable for children under 3 years old due to choking and strangulation hazards.

• What is the 1-20 Lacing Number Beads set?
  It is a tactile counting resource with 80 beads and four laces, designed to help children practise counting from 1 to 20 by touch and movement rather than on paper alone.
• Is this suitable for children with dyscalculia?
  Yes, the set is well suited to children with dyscalculia. The physical, moveable beads let a child count, recount and check their answer, which supports children who find abstract number lines hard to follow.
• Does this help children with SEND more generally, not just dyscalculia?
  Yes, the set supports a wider range of SEND needs. Its combination of colour, touch and movement suits children who learn best through concrete, multi-sensory materials rather than numbers on a page.
• How can teachers use this in the classroom?
  Teachers can give out the four separate laces to small groups for counting practice, or turn beads number-side down so children identify them by counting on or checking, turning a simple task into an estimating activity.
• How can parents use this at home?
  Parents can use the beads for everyday counting practice, sorting by colour, or simple pattern games, giving a screen-free way to reinforce what their child is learning at school.
• What age is this product suitable for?
  The set is designed for children aged 3 years and above. It is not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts and long cords.
• Is this product safe for young children?
  It contains small parts and long cords, so it carries choking and strangulation hazard warnings and is not suitable for children under 3 years old. Adult supervision is recommended during use.
• How many beads and laces are included?
  The set includes 80 beads, 20 in each of four colours, along with 4 lacing strings measuring 52cm each, making 84 pieces in total.