National partnerships

Preschool Reform Agreement

In December 2021, NSW became the first signatory to the National Preschool Reform Agreement (PRA), a historic agreement with the Australian Government that supports the delivery of 600 hours of quality preschool for children in the year before school to improve preschool participation and outcomes.

The Preschool Reform Agreement replaces the 2018/2021 National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access.

Preschool Outcomes Measure

The Preschool Outcomes Measure (POM) is a new national formative assessment tool designed to support teachers and educators to understand children’s learning and development in the year before full-time school.

Frequently asked questions

The POM assesses the key domains of oral language and literacy executive function – 2 important areas that support children’s language and problem-solving skills.

The National Applied Trial (NAT) is part of the development and trial process for the POM tool. Hundreds of NSW early childhood education and care (ECEC) services will be invited to participate in NAT of the POM between June and September 2025, testing the tool within their service.

At the end of this process, ACER will deliver a validated formative assessment, a set of learning progressions, and a series of professional development resources.

Findings from the NAT will inform the continued development and refinement of the POM tool.

The Preschool Outcomes Measure is a joint initiative of the Australian and state and territory governments. To formative assessment tool is being developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in partnership with Goodstart Early Learning and Ninti One.

Services participating in the NAT will use the POM tool during a specified period within the broader trial window of June−September 2025.

Participants will be asked to provide feedback about different aspects of their experience using the tool to help further develop and refine the POM.

Participating services will receive professional development to support the understanding of formative assessment, how to use the tool, and the 2 domains being assessed.

During the NAT, participating preschool programs will be prepared and supported through:

  • Professional development workshops completed prior to trial participation
  • Access to online self-paced resources throughout the trial via the Preschool Learning Management System (LMS)
  • Access to Helpdesk support via phone and email during business hours of the trial (the Preschool Support Centre)
  • A searchable online Helpdesk with articles, user guide materials and video demonstrations.

Category:

  • Early childhood education

Business Unit:

  • Early Childhood Outcomes
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