Boosting literacy and numeracy - families

Boosting literacy and numeracy is about ensuring all students build strong reading and maths skills.

Every NT Government school is going to use a consistent, evidence-based approach to learning.

Explicit teaching reflects how students learn best. It is where teachers break down concepts into small, more manageable steps, enabling students to build understanding and independence.

The Boosting Literacy and Numeracy Plan will ensure all NT Government schools are more consistent for students, families and teachers.

Our plan is built on three key pillars for student achievement:

• high quality resources for teachers and students, and professional learning for school staff
• screening assessment for early identification of students at risk
• intentional and planned support for students falling behind.

Get the Boosting Literacy and Numeracy plan PDF (1.6 MB).

Resources

There are many ways to support your child’s reading and maths before and during their schooling.

Resources for families

• Maths at home with young children – A guide for families PDF (1020.7 KB)
• Maths at home with children in Years 3-6 - A guide for families PDF (938.0 KB)
• Reading at home – a guide for families PDF (1.5 MB)
• Free downloadable decodable readers

Resources for teachers

Find out about Boosting literacy and numeracy: support for teachers.

Celebrating achievement

The Minister for Education and Training Excellence Awards is the refreshed and realigned initiative that celebrates student achievement across the Northern Territory. The awards shine a spotlight on students from Transition to Year 9 across government and non-government schools, with two students per year level to be nominated – one for literacy and one for numeracy.

The enhancement to these awards is a result of the CLP Government’s Boosting Literacy and Numeracy Plan, to deliver a consistent, evidence-based approach to learning, centred on the explicit teaching of reading and mathematics.

Schools are encouraged to consider more than just academic results; selection should reflect demonstrated growth, consistent application of skills across subjects, and a positive learning attitude. Recognising resilience, curiosity and persistence ensures that the awards celebrate not only achievement, but the journey of learning itself.

Nominations for the 2025 awards closed on 24 October 2025. The opening period for nominations for the 2026 awards will be communicated to schools and updated on this website in August 2026.

Contact

For more information about boosting literacy and numeracy in school contact otls.doe@education.nt.gov.au.