A new screening check to track Year 1 students' early progress in numeracy will be trialled across 150 NSW public schools as part of the Minns Labor Government's plan to lift student outcomes following declining NAPLAN results under 12 years of the Liberals and Nationals.
The short, teacher-led check will take around 10-15 minutes to complete with each student and will focus on foundational number sense skills that are key to later success in maths and numeracy, providing an opportunity for early intervention to ensure all students are on the right track.
The check will help teachers identify areas where students may require targeted assistance, such as counting, ordering numbers, and simple addition and subtraction strategies.
The Year 1 Number Screening Check will include 20-50 items to check students' number understanding across three areas:
- Number - knowledge of whole numbers, for example being shown the numeral 13, recognising it and saying "thirteen".
- Number relations - knowledge of relations between whole numbers, for example 5 comes before 6, which comes before 7.
- Number operations - knowledge of how numbers can be taken apart and put back together, for example adding 2 and 4 makes 6.
The trial, launching in Term 2, follows an early pilot across 19 schools in November 2024, the purpose of which was to develop the content, structure and mechanics of the check. The department will further refine the details of the check using feedback from the trial.
Resources to help schools implement and respond to assessment results will also be developed during the pilot.
The Year 1 Number Screening Check will support the existing Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, providing teachers with an early view of individual students' progress and an opportunity to intervene in their development of these foundational skills of literacy and numeracy.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
"Literacy and numeracy skills are the foundations of an education that sets children up for life. The Minns Labor Government wants to ensure students are on track early on, so all children have the opportunity to succeed.
"That is why we are trialling the introduction of a Number Screening Check in Year 1 which, along with the existing Phonics Screening Check, will serve as an important tool for teachers, enabling them to assess the foundational skill development of our young learners.
"We know that early intervention is crucial for students needing additional support - the earlier we identify children who need attention, the more chance they have to succeed.
"This is part of the Minns Labor Government's plan to rebuild public education and lift outcomes for all students after years of declining results under the Liberals and Nationals."
