We’re providing schools with teacher release time to assist with training and implementing the Year 1 Phonics Check and a numeracy check.
Year 1 Phonics Check
The Year 1 Phonics Check provides essential information for the early identification of student learning needs. Phonics checks are 1 of 3 priority categories for reading implementation in 2025 and are efficient, valid, reliable and objective.
The Year 1 Phonics Check is designed for implementation in Term 3 with all students in Year 1. It is freely available from the federal government’s Literacy Hub, taking approximately 5–7 minutes per student for teachers to administer.
As part of implementing the Australian Curriculum Version 9, schools will de-implement several previously used reading assessments, which are now no longer aligned. This will save significant teacher time that can be spent explicitly teaching foundational reading skills.
Schools are encouraged to begin planning for implementation in Term 3 and to access the available resources to support effective administration. This marks an important and exciting step in continuing to embed practices that strengthen reading instruction and ensure reading success for all students.
Numeracy check
The department is working towards strengthening support for students’ numeracy proficiency. The department will be participating in a national project to develop and evaluate numeracy screening measures to identify children requiring more support for mathematics in the early years.
This will inform the selection of a numeracy screening tool to be implemented in the early years in all Queensland state school students.
Support for schools
Currently in Queensland state schools, the earliest robust measure of proficiency or risk for reading and numeracy is Year 3 NAPLAN. Phonics and numeracy checks will enable schools to identify students who may require more support earlier.
The department will support schools and teachers by providing teacher release (TRS) to support training and administration of phonics and numeracy checks.