Best Start Assessment

What is Best Start?

Best Start is one component of a NSW Government initiative to increase literacy and numeracy learning support in the early years of schooling.

Is Best Start a test?

No - It is the classroom teacher working with each child on literacy and numeracy tasks to gain a starting point for planning effective teaching and learning activities. The children do not pass or fail. All public schools in NSW participate in Best Start.

There is no preparation required.

How will this be implemented at FDPS?

At the end of 2020 a booking schedule will be sent to you via School Enews. You select what time you will bring your child to school to meet a Kindergarten teacher at the start of the 2021 school year. The teacher your child works with may not necessarily be their class teacher so please do not tell your child they are meeting 'their' teachers rather, they will meet 'a' Kindergarten teacher. The teachers will take some time to get to know your child then work with them on some simple literacy and numeracy activities.

Best Start dates from Friday 29 February 2021 up to and including Wednesday 3 February.

Teachers ask a series of questions to gather information about children’s early literacy and numeracy knowledge. Teachers record their observations and your child’s responses directly into the Best Start software.

In term one, a Best Start parent feedback report will be sent home with your child. The report will outline what your child could do and list some ideas to help develop their skills.

Kindergarten start date is Thursday 4 February. There will be staggered times for this, please see the FAQ section for further information.