Teachers use data to understand where their students are in their learning and to plan what to do next. Effective analysis of student data helps teachers identify areas where students’ learning needs may require additional attention and development.
Scout is the department’s data and analysis platform, developed to provide information about our schools. It brings vast amounts of data into one location, allowing users to view all information that is relevant to them at one time. It gathers data for faster answers, simplifying data analysis.
NAPLAN is an annual assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN reading data can be used by teachers to understand student strengths and weaknesses and to plan for effective teaching and learning. The information gathered from the NAPLAN assessment can be used to track student growth over time and to assess whole school literacy priorities.
PLAN2 is designed to help record observations of students’ literacy capabilities based on the National Literacy Learning Progression. It can be used to analyse student needs and teaching priorities by using the literacy progression information to identify where to target the teaching to support students’ reading development. It allows teachers to work together to monitor student growth and to help identify patterns to evaluate what works best and strengthen practice.
Narrator:
Planning for Literacy and Numeracy (PLAN2) is an online application designed by the NSW Department of Education (DoE).
PLAN2 supports teaching and learning in literacy and numeracy across the curriculum using the National Literacy and Numeracy Learning Progressions.
PLAN2 allows teachers to analyse observations of student learning made by teachers or DoE online assessments, plan for explicit teaching and learning beginning with NSW syllabus outcomes and to observe and maintain evidence of student learning against the specific literacy and or numeracy observable behaviours represented by the literacy and numeracy learning progressions.
In addition, PLAN2 supports whole and cross school collaboration by allowing teachers to see observations from multiple sources, including those from other teachers in other contexts and from Department of Education assessments which are mapped to PLAN2.
PLAN2 allows teachers to see the mapping of NSW K–10 English and mathematics syllabus outcomes and content points, where available, to the literacy and numeracy progression sub-element levels.
This supports teachers in establishing individual students’ starting points in relation to the syllabus outcomes, identifying the priority skills for explicit teaching and learning, and monitoring every students’ progress towards their achievement of learning outcomes.
To begin using PLAN2, identify your focus in the teaching and learning cycle, select from the available features and enter the required information.
PLAN2 allows teachers to be in control of their analysis, planning or observation focus.
Teachers specify the students or cohorts of students and the specific literacy or numeracy progression indicators which they would like to focus on.
By default, PLAN2 generates the last observations which have been received against the selected indicators, but the observation sources filter allows teachers to take full control and to specify the precise source of observations, as well as the date of observations which they would like to analyse.
They can select from observations made by themselves, by other teachers, or observations made by any of the online assessments mapped to PLAN2.
The PLAN2 observation scale allows teachers to enter observation statuses against progression indicators representing the literacy and numeracy learning being demonstrated by students.
PLAN2 screens are embedded with learning assets to support the use of features and to provide advice on best practice and additional understanding.
PLAN2 is an iterative tool and continues to undergo enhancements.
For latest up to date, step-by-step guides on use of individual features, to find out more about PLAN2 or to request support, visit the ALAN help desk by selecting ‘Help' from the PLAN2 menu.
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Short reading assessments are available for Stages 4 and 5. These assessments are aligned with the National Literacy Learning Progression and NSW syllabus outcomes. Teachers can group together or modify these short assessments to suit the learning needs of their students. Teachers can use the information from these assessments to inform planning and programming, as well as provide immediate feedback to their students.
The Check-in assessment is an online reading and numeracy assessment for students in Years 3–9. The reading assessment is mapped to the NSW Syllabuses and National Literacy Learning Progression. The data from the Check-in assessment can be used to supplement existing school practices to identify how students are performing in literacy and to help teachers tailor their teaching more specifically to student needs.
Assessments such as Stage-based assessments, the Check-in assessment and NAPLAN can provide information that contributes to early identification of students who may need reading comprehension support to achieve the HSC minimum standard. This will allow targeted teaching to be provided throughout Stages 4–5.
HSC PL bites are available to help Stage 6 teachers assess, investigate, review and reassess reading responses to determine what has been effectively answered, and what could be improved in line with the marking guidelines. This learning can help teachers use assessment data more effectively to understand and monitor how their Stage 6 students are reading and responding to exam questions.
The following assessments are primarily targeted towards early readers. They are, however, available for students in any Year/Stage level and can assist secondary teachers to identify additional support needs in reading. The student assessment analysis information provided in the Phonological awareness diagnostic assessment helps teachers to use data to inform teaching by identifying where a student is at in their reading development and providing advice on where to next. This information can be used to support differentiation and intervention for struggling readers in a secondary context. The Phonics diagnostic assessment is a short, on-demand assessment that tells teachers how students are progressing in phonics. The ability to use phonetic skills is an essential component of reading and writing.
Teachers can use data to make decisions about next steps in learning for their class, a group or individual students. They can also use the feedback to create an Area of focus in PLAN2 to support monitoring of reading development in the context of NSW syllabus outcomes.
The High Potential and Gifted Education Policy Evaluation and Planning Tool provides a framework for school leaders to gather evidence and evaluate their current procedures, programs and practices in relation to reading comprehension. This data can be used by schools to evaluate and strengthen teaching and learning practices to ensure that whole school reading priorities extend high potential and gifted students.
NSW Public Schools Surveys (NPSS) is a new suite of surveys designed to gather insights from students, parents and teachers about their experiences at school. Insights from NPSS help school leaders understand what’s working well and where improvements can be made. The student survey will launch in 2025, with the parent and teacher surveys following in 2026.
Use of data to inform practice resources:
- SCOUT
- NAPLAN
- PLAN2
- National Literacy Learning Progression
- Reading short assessments
- Check-in assessment
- HSC minimum standard
- HSC PL bites
- Phonological awareness diagnostic assessment
- Phonics diagnostic assessment
- PLAN2: Area of focus
- High Potential and Gifted Education Policy Evaluation and Planning Tool
- NSW Public Schools Surveys (NPSS)