The Curriculum Reform timeline (NESA) details what new syllabuses are coming, and in which year schools will need to plan, prepare or implement them.

Advice for English and mathematics

Schools will plan, program, assess and report on outcomes from two syllabuses for English and mathematics in 2023.

Kindergarten to Year 2

For Years K-2, schools are to teach, assess and report to parents using the:

• English K-2 Syllabus (2021)
• Mathematics K-2 Syllabus (2021).

Year 3 to Year 6

For students in Years 3-6 working towards Stage 2 or 3 outcomes, schools will continue to teach, assess and report to parents using the:

• English K–10 Syllabus (2012).
• Mathematics K–10 Syllabus (2012).

Students with IEPs who are working below Stage 2 outcomes will be taught from the 2021 syllabuses.

English and Mathematics 3-10 syllabuses

Schools will have access to the English and Mathematics 3-10 syllabuses from Term 4 2022.

2023 is considered a year of planning and preparation for these syllabuses. These syllabuses are required to be taught from 2024.

Primary schools are strongly recommended to delay teaching of the 3-10 syllabuses until 2024 – providing you time to develop a deep understanding of the pedagogy and evidence base through professional learning and resources.

Microlearning, scope and sequences and units are under development for the implementation of English and mathematics in Years 3-6 (released in a phased manner throughout 2023).

All schools will continue to meet the requirements of the Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K-12 policy and policy standards.

Planning for 2023 class structures

Schools should review their class structures for 2023 to assess possible impacts on planning, programming, assessment and reporting.

In 2023, some class structures will require teachers to engage with two syllabuses within a single key learning area.

Whole-school decision-making must be inclusive of the learning needs of all students, particularly where they are working above or below stage-based expectations.

The following examples may assist schools in making decisions regarding class structures in 2023.

Example 1 – cross-stage composite class

A Year 2/3 class requires teachers to plan, program, assess and report on outcomes from both the:

• K-2 syllabuses (2021) – or students working towards Stage 1 outcomes
• existing K-10 syllabuses (2012) – for students working towards Stage 2 outcomes.

Example 2 – K-6 multi-age class

A K-6 multi-age class requires teachers to plan, program, assess and report on outcomes from both the:

• K-2 syllabuses 2021 – for students working towards Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 outcomes
• existing K-10 syllabuses 2012 – for students working towards Stage 2 and Stage 3 outcomes.

Example 3 – Year 6 class with diverse learning needs and abilities

In a Year 6 class, ‘most’ students are working towards Stage 3 outcomes while others are working towards:

• Stage 1 outcomes
• Stage 2 outcomes
• beyond Stage 3 outcomes.

The range of learning needs and abilities in this class requires teachers to plan, program, assess and report on outcomes from multiple syllabuses, including:

• K-2 syllabuses (2021) – for students working towards Stage 1 outcomes
• existing K-10 syllabuses (2012) – for students working towards Stage 2 and 3 outcomes and beyond Stage 3 outcomes.

Developing teacher capacity with English and mathematics K-2 syllabuses

Some staff may need to engage with professional learning and resources for implementation of the English and mathematics K-2 syllabuses (2021).

Professional learning

• English K-2 – NR32968 (elective professional development) – department microlearning course

• Introduction to English K-2 Syllabus (NESA) – all NSW teachers have access to the course by logging into NESA Online Learning

• Mathematics K-2 – NR32967 (elective professional development) – department microlearning course

• Introduction to Mathematics K-2 Syllabus (NESA) – all NSW teachers have access to the course by logging into NESA Online Learning.

Resources

• Planning, programming and assessing English K-6 contains scope and sequences, units and other resources
• Planning, programming and assessing Mathematics K-6 contains scope and sequences, units and other resources
• Syllabus factsheets for school leaders
• K-2 research toolkits.

Reflective questions to support 2023 whole school planning

In most schools, planning for 2023 is well underway. The following questions may be useful in supporting conversations with staff:

• What class structures are in place?
• What professional learning have we undertaken?
• What are our professional learning needs?
• How will we support the needs of all students?
• What processes and procedures will remain the same?
• What processes and procedures will need to change?
• Which English and mathematics syllabuses will we use to plan, program, assess and report to parents?
• What will look different about our processes for planning, programming, assessment and reporting?
• How will our templates for reporting to parents change to meet requirements?
• Who can support us?
• What actions can we take now in preparation for 2023?
• How will we communicate changes to parents or carers and the school community?

Contact us

For more information and advice, please contact the primary curriculum team by email (primarycurriculum@det.nsw.edu.au) with the subject 'Syllabus implementation advice'.