Literacy and Numeracy in Schools - Access and Opportunity for All

The Australian Government is committed to delivering the highest quality education for all Australian students and has engaged states and territories in a challenging reform agenda for literacy and numeracy. This new approach to improving outcomes is based on greater collaboration around what works. Getting the basics right at school is critical in building an education system that pursues excellence and equity for every student.

Much of this work is happening now in government and non-government schools to improve outcomes for those students most in need of support, including Indigenous students.  This includes:

• Smarter Schools National Partnerships

  We are working with state and territory education authorities to improve educational outcomes for all children, particularly those at risk of falling behind. The government is providing significant additional funding through collaborative new National Partnerships with states and territories to improve teacher quality ($550 million), boost literacy and numeracy ($540 million) and raise achievement in disadvantaged school communities ($1.5 billion).

• Indigenous Literacy and Numeracy

  To help close the gap in literacy and numeracy levels between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students over the next decade the Australian Government is providing $56.4 million of national funding over four years. This funding will be used to trial and expand intensive literacy and numeracy programs in schools to assist Indigenous students who are not meeting national minimum standards.

• Literacy and Numeracy Pilots

  The Australian Government has invested around $41 million in 30 pilot initiatives that are driving changes at the school level and building an evidence base of what works for disadvantaged students. Over 400 schools are actively involved in finding out what works to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for students most in need of support.

• NLNW

  In 2011, National Literacy and Numeracy Week will be held from 29 August to 4 September across Australia to promote the importance of literacy and numeracy as fundamental life skills and highlight effective literacy and numeracy practices on a national scale.

• Evidence Base

  Reflecting the commitment of the Smarter Schools National Partnership on Literacy and Numeracy, an evidence base of effective practice in literacy and numeracy is being developed in partnership with the states and territories. It will describe the key features of effective approaches and strategies in literacy and numeracy, and provide evidence to support their success. 

  The sharing of information through this evidence base, will lead to better informed decisions that improve the literacy and numeracy outcomes of Australian students. 

• Recent Literacy and Numeracy Publications and Research Reports

  View literacy and numeracy publications and research reports that have recently been published.