Supporting Your Child's Numeracy Development

By Pascal Press I March 4, 2025

Addressing Numeracy Struggles in Primary Students

Mathematics is essential for academic success, yet many primary school students in New South Wales are struggling with foundational numeracy skills. A recent article from The Sydney Morning Herald (2025) reported that a significant portion of Year 3 students are failing to meet essential benchmarks, including basic addition, subtraction, and number recognition. These early struggles can have lasting effects on students’ confidence and academic performance, making early intervention crucial.

The Importance of Extra Support

The new screening initiative is designed to identify students who need extra support, enabling teachers to tailor instruction to address these gaps. Some key aspects of this initiative include:

• Early identification of students struggling with core math skills
• Targeted support from teachers based on individual needs
• Aiming to prevent future academic difficulties by addressing gaps early

Parents can also play a crucial role in helping their children develop strong numeracy skills. Encouraging math practice at home is vital in reinforcing the concepts learned at school. The goal is to ensure that students who struggle early on can receive the help they need before their challenges impact their overall academic progress.

Utilising Helpful Resources

Using the right resources is key to reinforcing what students learn in the classroom. When students struggle with fundamental skills, structured resources can help them build confidence and mastery over the material, providing consistent practice and feedback. For parents looking to support their children, our Excel NAPLAN*-Style Numeracy Tests workbooks are an excellent choice. Aligned with the NAPLAN test format, these workbooks focus on essential areas like number recognition, basic arithmetic, and problem-solving, giving students the practice they need to succeed in both school assessments and future academic challenges.

Early intervention and targeted support are key to helping students overcome numeracy challenges. By providing structured practice at home and using the right resources, children can strengthen their maths skills and build confidence. Our Excel NAPLAN*-Style Numeracy Tests workbooks offer an effective way to reinforce foundational concepts, ensuring students are well-prepared for future assessments and academic success.

Click here to explore our range of Numeracy NAPLAN*-style workbooks!

References

The Sydney Morning Herald. (2025, March 2). Thousands of NSW primary school students to sit new mathematics test. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/thousands-of-nsw-primary-school-students-to-sit-new-mathematics-test-20250302-p5lg80.html