950 schools trial Prep Entry Assessment Procedure

More than 950 Victorian schools will this year trial the Prep Entry Assessment Procedure, designed to help teachers determine each student's understanding of numeracy and literacy when they start school.

The Prep Entry Assessment Procedure was developed in response to the National Literacy Action Plan that states that from 1999 all students starting school should have their literacy and numeracy needs assessed.

Mr Gude said the initiative would allow teachers to better tailor programs to meet the individual learning needs of each child.

"Accurate assessment of a child's understanding of literacy and numeracy is a vital starting point for the creation of meaningful and effective teaching programs," he said.

The Prep Entry Assessment Procedure will give teachers a snapshot of what a child can do when they start school, so that teaching programs can accurately meet student needs.

The materials used during the assessment are simple, colourful, bright and fun activities designed specifically for young people. They allow the child to demonstrate their understanding rather than resorting to methods such as pen and paper tests.

The procedure is part of the Government's $102 million Early Years Literacy Program.

The Minister for Education, Mr Gude, said that an additional $50 million from the last state budget has enabled the training of more than 1000 teachers as specialised Early Years Literacy Coordinators responsible for implementing the program.

"It is this Government's aim to have a 100 percent proficiency rate in literacy for every capable Victorian student in Year 3 by the year 2005."

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Education, 19 February 1999)