Phonics test trial for Tassie schools

TWENTY Tasmanian public schools will next year be involved in a phonics testing pilot as part of a Government bid to lift educational outcomes.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the National Year 1 Phonics Screen Test pilot is a short assessment that tells teachers how students are progressing in phonics.

Mr Rockliff said phonics, which teaches students to read by correlating sounds with alphabetical symbols, is an essential skill for learning to read and write.

“When the discussion around a national phonics test was mooted a few years ago, I put up Tasmania’s hand effectively and said ‘we want to be part of this’,’’ he said.

“It’s all very much part of our ultimate aim which is to have 100 per cent literacy across our Tasmanian community in the years to come.”

Amelia Jones, chair of Square Pegs dyslexia support and advocacy, welcomed the pilot testing initiative.

“It’s going to provide an opportunity to have early identification of children who are struggling and that means early identification of children with dyslexia,’’ she said.

Mr Rockliff said the pilot would determine the future implementation of the program in 2021, with assessments to be carried out in 2020 to determine its success.

“We recognise literacy is an area of utmost importance for all Tasmanians, which is why we are continuing to build knowledge and practices in this space with a number of initiatives already under way,’’ he said. Mr Rockliff cited the Government’s 2019-22 Literacy Framework.