Many students find great difficulty in the formal programming modules taught in almost every computing science degree.These modules,often taught in later years,rely on some mathematical abilities that seem beyond many students.This paper describes two new modules in years I and II of the curriculum that are helping students to prepare for the formal programming courses.These modules are algorithmic problem solving and discrete mathematics for computing science and are now running in two third-level institutions in Ireland.This paper also shows the impact that these new modules have had on the students in question.