This report details findings from the early childhood element of the 2022 Literacy and Numeracy project conducted by the Australian Education Research Organisation.

Around 10 per cent of students across Australia need additional support in literacy and numeracy to meet higher NAPLAN expectations, according to the data released by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) in the new-look 2023 NAPLAN national results.

This paper is the second in a series of analytical insights papers, which provide accessible, up-to-date analysis of educational datasets. It’s the first in a series that uses the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO)’s new Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy in Australia (LLANIA) dataset to explore educational questions.

This report presents the findings from a survey and interviews with students in Years 7 to 9 who lack the foundational literacy and numeracy skills that are required to engage with a secondary curriculum in schools where most students have these skills.

This report presents the findings of a literature review on the applicability and effectiveness of interventions for older students who have not mastered foundational literacy or numeracy skills.