Teachers from Shanghai are to take up temporary posts in English primary school this week to share their skills and knowledge with their counterparts.

The academics have arrived in England as part of an exchange programme that has been set up between the Department for Education and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission.

Presently, 29 maths experts are being embedded across England's primary schools and, over the next three weeks, they will be working hard to deliver new insight into effective teaching practices.

The DfE said that the emphasis on primary level maths – for now – is deliberate, as it "mirrors the emphasis" that teachers in Shanghai place on developing core skills as soon as children enter education.

This "sound basis" is essential in providing youngsters will the absolute fundamentals needed to move onto more advanced concepts. It is all about providing strong foundations.

It is hoped that maths teachers in England will benefit tremendously from this collaboration – their Shanghai colleagues, through their unique techniques, have consistently delivered exceptional results.

Accordingly, China continues to top international performance tables and not only just in maths. Understanding why, will help boost standards in English schools and ensure that children get the best start possible in life.

"Our plan for education is ensuring children in this country receive a world-class education which will equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a competitive global environment," commented Nick Gibb, school reform minister.

"Shanghai currently leads the way in maths performance and there is no reason why our children cannot achieve the same high standards. This innovative exchange programme enables our teachers to develop their professional skills alongside those from the most successful education system in the world."

Charlie Stripp, director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, said that he is "hugely impressed" by the way maths is taught in China, adding that he is certain teachers in England will benefit from learning new methods.

"Shanghai teachers employ a mastery approach to maths teaching, which fits well with the structure of our new maths national curriculum," he added. "There are already examples of the mastery approach to maths teaching being successfully implemented in some English schools, and I firmly believe it can, and should, be embedded deeply and widely throughout our schools."