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 Chief Minister’s Excellence in Literacy and Numeracy Awards are the refreshed and realigned initiative that celebrates student achievement across the Northern Territory. The awards recognise excellence in literacy and numeracy for students from Transition to Year 10 across government and non-government schools.

The enhancement to these awards is a result of the 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.

All schools are encouraged to submit candidates for the awards:

• Chief Minister’s Excellence in Literacy Award
• Chief Minister’s Excellence in Numeracy Award.

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 2026 awards close on 18 September 2026.

Contact

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