Overview How children learn to read is one of the most studied aspects of education. There is a large and rigorous body of scientific evidence identifying the key elements of high quality reading instruction. The research literature also unequivocally shows that explicit instruction methods are the most effective way of teaching reading, especially for novice...

An early intervention program targeted at children struggling to read may not be delivering the results its advocates promise. Reading Recovery has been around since the 1970s, but its effectiveness is increasingly being called into doubt. If you have a child who develops reading difficulties within their first year of school, the chances are pretty...

Overview Every year the taking of NAPLAN examinations and the dissemination of NAPLAN results generates considerable media coverage and community discussion about schools and school education outcomes. This paper discusses the origins, objectives and main features of NAPLAN, and sets out its position within the national education policy framework. It also considers the extensive criticisms...

This evaluation examined the impact of Reading Recovery (RR) on students' outcomes in NSW government schools. The evaluation found some evidence that RR has a modest short-term effect on reading skills among the lowest performing students. However, RR does not appear to be an effective intervention for students that begin Year 1 with more proficient...

Language development Developing language skills is one of the most important tasks of early childhood; language is at the foundation of all of the skills that children need for life. When children have a language impairment, they can struggle to make and keep friends, negotiate new experiences and to self regulate. Long-term, children with a...