Literacy and Numeracy
Education Queensland is committed to ensuring that all students develop a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy in the early years as a basis for progress in all future learning. As they progress through schooling, students should develop effective literacy and numeracy skills to support successful participation in the post-school years in training, work, or further study.
Literacy
Literacy is integral to effective learning, teaching and assessing in all curriculum areas and across all phases of learning.
Literacy - the Key to Learning: Framework for Action 2006-2008 (new window) 318k 
builds on the Literate Futures initiative. It includes 17 actions that provide the basis for an extensive coordinated program to improve literacy outcomes for all students including those who are educationally disadvantaged. The Framework identifies four areas for focused attention and action:
- Literacy learning
- Literacy leadership
- Literacy in the curriculum
- Literacy teaching
Associated with the implementation of the Framework is intensive professional development for all teachers from Prep to Year 9 and all early years teacher aides. The professional development programs will be delivered to all teachers throughout the state during 2009 and 2010.
The Literacy - the Key to Learning website provides more information on the actions and links to resources.
Numeracy
Numeracy is integral to effective learning in all years of schooling and in all areas of learning.
Through the Professional Development and Leadership Institute website, vodcasts are available that provide information and provoke discussion about numeracy in the curriculum. Robyn Zevenbergen and Merrilyn Goos team up with Thelma Perso in a thought provoking series of presentations.
The Numeracy: Lifelong Confidence with Mathematics - Framework for action 2007-2010 (new window) 458k released in October 2007 identifies key priorities and areas for focused action to meet these challenges. They are:
- understanding numeracy
- teacher knowledge and pedagogy
- numeracy across the curriculum
- numeracy leadership.
Education Queensland is committed to implementing the 32 actions in the framework to support all teachers in Queensland state schools improve numeracy outcomes for all students.
Interventions
In order to ensure that all learners reach their potential in literacy and numeracy, schools have programs to monitor the performance of those at risk of falling behind and to provide targeted support.
Year 2 Diagnostic Net
All students are monitored throughout Years 1 to 3 and those not making adequate progress by the middle of Year 2 receive additional classroom support.
An Even Start - National Tuition Program - 2008
An Australian Government initiative that will address the learning needs of educationally disadvantaged students who need additional support to acquire satisfactory literacy and numeracy skills. The programme will provide tuition for literacy or numeracy to the value of $700 per child to students who do not meet the Year 3, 5, 7, national benchmark in literacy or numeracy.
Upper Primary Literacy Grant
This State grant is provided to support year 6 and 7 students who fell below the benchmarks of the year 5 literacy testing. Schools are to use additional teachers during the school day to work with the classroom teacher so that the intervention focuses on the literacy demands of the class program.
Years 3 and 5 Intensive Teaching initiative
On 10 March 2009, the Premier announced a number of initiatives to improve the literacy and numeracy achievements for Queensland students. One particular commitment referred to the provision of up to $12.25million per year for the next three years to the Years 3 and 5 Intensive Teaching initiative. This initiative will provide between 10 and 20 hours of intensive teaching for those Years 3 and 5 students not meeting National minimum standards in either literacy or numeracy.
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