Simon Sheard is a senior lecturer in Education at the University of Sunderland and a former primary school teacher, maths subject leader and senior leader in the north-east of England. Simon’s ongoing doctoral research focuses on the rationale primary teachers use for selecting and using manipulatives (concrete resources) in their maths lessons. Simon collaborates with schools, teacher training providers and Maths Hubs in the region to promote the effective use of manipulatives as part of a mastery approach.