Best Start Kindergarten resources
Fact sheet
The Best Start Kindergarten Assessment - Information for schools (PDF 162KB) (staff only) outlines the assessment and answers frequently asked questions.
Implementation checklists
The Best Start Kindergarten Assessment - Principal checklist (PDF 111KB) (staff only) identifies tasks to be carried out by schools before, during and after the assessment window.
The Best Start Kindergarten Assessment - Administration checklist (PDF 116KB) (staff only) identifies essential administration activities to complete before starting the assessment.
Administration guide
The Best Start Kindergarten Administration guide (PDF 116KB) (staff only) assists teachers to administer the assessment.
Note: For Best Start Kindergarten 2021, all schools will continue to use the 2019 version of the guide.
Supplementary guide
The Best Start Kindergarten supplementary guide (PDF 414.27KB (staff only) should be used when teachers cannot make the necessary accommodations and adjustments to gather sufficient information about students during the assessment.
Note: For Best Start Kindergarten 2021, all schools will continue to use the 2019 version of the guide.
BSKA folder
Each school was provided with a 2019 version of the BSKA folder, which contains printed copies of the resources required to administer the assessment. Schools received one copy for each Kindergarten teacher and one additional school copy. Schools will continue to use the 2019 version folders in 2021 and will not receive new folders.
Schools with additional Kindergarten classes in 2021 may request additional folders by emailing beststartkinder@det.nsw.edu.au by Week 5, Term 4, 2020.
BSKA and PLAN2 Area of Focus templates
To supplement existing school practices, a series of PLAN2 Area of Focus templates have been designed to identify how students are progressing in specific literacy and numeracy skills that are assessed in the Best Start Kindergarten Assessment.
The templates developed include:
Creating texts, spelling and punctuation
Listening, speaking and interacting
Phonic knowledge and word recognition
Phonological awareness
Understanding texts and fluency
Number patterns and algebraic thinking
Quantifying numbers
Additive strategies
These templates were designed using the Areas of focus PLAN2 feature. This allows teachers to:
create and save a customised set of syllabus outcome(s) and progression indicators for a select group of students
use for explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy across the curriculum
monitor students' learning
Teachers can then adapt these templates to tailor teaching specifically to student needs.
The following video presents a school-based scenario on how to access and use the PLAN2 Areas of focus templates.
Information for parents and carers
- Best Start Kindergarten Assessment - School presentation (PPT 4MB) (staff only). Please save this document before opening
- Best Start Kindergarten Assessment - Letter to parents and carers - English (PDF 98.78KB) | translated letters
- Best Start Kindergarten Assessment - Parent and carer information sheet (English - PDF 97KB) | translated information sheet
- Best Start Kindergarten Assessment - Parent and carer summary information (PDF 2MB)
- Helping your child with literacy and numeracy at home - parent and carer resource
Online tool
Teachers administer the assessment using the online tool for entering student responses. The online tool will be available via the Assessing Literacy and Numeracy website (ALAN) at the beginning of 2021.
Forms for recording responses offline are available for download where required (staff only). Please note that these forms may only be used in specific circumstances.
