The Allan Labor Government is ensuring Victorian students remain the best performers in the country by delivering mandatory phonics in all Victorian classrooms.
Minister for Education Ben Carroll visited Templestowe Heights Primary School today to launch Phonics Plus, a program which provides schools with a comprehensive approach to teaching reading using the evidence-based systematic synthetic phonics approach.
The Phonics Plus resources include a detailed scope and sequence program that sets out how students first learn simple sound-letter relationships before moving on to more complex letter combinations for reading and spelling.
Teachers will have access to a comprehensive set of Phonics Plus lesson plans that include 25 minutes of daily and explicit phonics.
The Labor Government released the first tranche of the lesson plans today, with further lesson plans available for Prep teachers later this term and for Grades 1 and 2 in the first half of 2025.
The lesson plans have been developed by current teachers and school leaders and will ensure that the excellent teaching practice evident in many of our schools is evident in every school.
The lesson plans will also contribute to reducing the workload of teachers by ensuring they can access ready-made high quality classroom resources.
These high-quality new classroom resources will play a significant role in reducing teacher workload as well as supporting the delivery of high-quality teaching in every school that's backed by evidence and research.
The Labor Government continues to lead the nation in education investment and outcomes - making sure every student has the resources they need to succeed in the Education State.
As stated by Minister for Education Ben Carroll
"National and international evidence makes it clear that a systematic synthetic phonics approach is the most effective method teachers can use to help young primary school students develop essential early reading skills."
"We are proud to set our youngest students up with literacy skills for life and reduce the workload of teachers, rolling the Phonics Plus program out across the state."
