Kindergarten tests introduced

Kindergarten students at Umina, Empire Bay and Pretty Beach will be assessed for their understanding of simple literacy and numeracy concepts, as they begin school this year.

They will be among 430 schools to use the Best Start assessment, according to NSW Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Central Coast Mr John Della Bosca.

"Right now, regional Best Start personnel are finalising training for Kindergarten teachers on how to use the assessment tools to develop teaching strategies that will meet each student's needs," Mr Della Bosca said.

The Best Start Kindergarten assessment will look at students' early reading and writing, their understanding of how books work, and their ability to communicate with others, recognising and using the sounds and letters of the English language.

Teachers will also look at students' early counting skills, and how they recognise and work with numbers, groups and patterns.

"This is just one of the tools the Iemma Government is using to improve literacy and numeracy," Mr Della Bosca said.

He said the program would cost $81.6 million.

The Minister said the Best Start program also includes 200 extra Reading Recovery teachers over four years to work with Year 1 students experiencing difficulty learning to read and write.

Press release, 13 Feb 2008 John Della Bosca, Minister for Education and Training