- The Crisafulli Government will introduce a new phonics and numeracy check in Year 1 to help lift students' results.
- Earlier checks allow for quicker and targeted support to help students excel and prevent others from falling behind.
- Additional checks will help to deliver on a key election commitment to lift literacy and numeracy results after a decade of Labor neglect.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for Queensland students with the introduction of new phonics and numeracy checks in Year 1 to help lift results, while allowing for earlier intervention for struggling children.
The phonics check will be introduced this term and numeracy checks will begin from 2026, providing quick, efficient, and reliable methods to measure progress and deliver a world-class education to students.
Phonics is widely recognised as the best practice teaching method for literacy development and these additional checks help to deliver on a key Crisafulli Government election commitment to lift literacy and numeracy results across the state.
A Teacher Relief Scheme will be introduced alongside the phonics and numeracy checks to help backfill teachers who are out of the classroom delivering the Year 1 checks, ensuring their workload does not increase.
Under the former Labor Government, more children struggled to meet national literacy and numeracy benchmarks while teachers drowned under burdensome administration and unnecessary red tape.
The Crisafulli Government's $21.9 billion Education Budget allocated more than $222 million for the More Teachers, Better Education Plan, which includes investment over four years to reduce red tape for teachers, tackle behaviour in the classroom, and create safer schools.
The Education Budget also lays the foundation for a fresh start with a $1.09 billion investment to deliver new schools in Queensland's fast-growing communities including six special schools to ensure all children are supported to reach their potential.
Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said the additional phonics and numeracy checks followed best practice teaching methods in England and across Australia.
"Our youngest Queenslanders deserve the best start to their education and these additional checks will help ensure our kids excel," Minister Langbroek said.
"These checks allow teachers to identify advanced children who would benefit from more challenging work.
"It also allows teachers and support staff to swoop in earlier if children are falling behind to put them back on track.
"We're making sure our children receive a world-class education without adding to teachers' workloads.
"Reducing red tape for teachers is a priority for our Government and that's why we're providing more support for teachers."
