Cluey’s latest national research has found 72 per cent of parents will be using this year’s NAPLAN results as a yardstick to determine the impact Covid-19 has had on their child’s learning progress. An astounding 74 per cent of Australian parents whose children are undertaking NAPLAN this year feel that their child’s education was adversely affected by COVID-19, with 71 per cent of parents deeming it fair that the exams have been reinstated in 2021.
Our research also found that nearly two thirds of the parents surveyed have revealed they will be following this year’s results more closely than previous years and will be using them to identify any learning gaps that need to be addressed.
Dr. Selina Samuels, Chief Learning Officer, Cluey Learning says:
“Last year’s disruption to schooling has really highlighted to parents the importance of understanding how each child is progressing in their learning. This was something that they found really hard to understand and address during lockdown. In particular, we are seeing renewed emphasis on fundamental literacy and numeracy skills that are foundational to further achievement. In that context, NAPLAN plays an important role in benchmarking learning across the country, and preparation for the exams is a great way to focus on those skills in a structured way.”
The survey results also showcase that more than two thirds of Australian parents feel their kids are already feeling anxious about NAPLAN with post-pandemic pressure potentially exacerbating NAPLAN nerves. Over half of parents have also admitted they are “dreading the NAPLAN period.” NAPLAN will take place nationally for children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 between the 11th and 21st of May 2021.
Dr. Selina Samuels’ Tips to help ease NAPLAN nerves:
“It is really important for parents to help their children face NAPLAN like they face any challenge: as an opportunity to show what they can do and something from which they can learn. Familiarity with the format of the exams helps to dispel, not create, anxiety. The skills that they develop in preparing for NAPLAN are skills for life, not just for exams, and at Cluey, we believe that appropriate preparation and practice are key.”
We’ll be releasing more of the interesting findings from our survey in the coming weeks. If you feel your child needs some extra NAPLAN support for this year’s exams, click here.
Survey details: 500 surveys conducted amongst parents of children currently in a NAPLAN year (year 3, 5, 7 or 9) across Australia. Pure Profile provided the sample for the study. Data has been weighted to ABS in terms of state and gender.
