How the curriculum incorporates student wellbeing was the focus of several questions in our recent Parent Q&A on NAPLAN 2021 and the Australian Curriculum Review.

There were two specific questions that we'd like to highlight in this newsletter as we thought lots of parents might be interested in the responses, and because we didn't get time to respond to them in detail during the webinar.

We'd like to thank the team at the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for providing these responses.

1. From Lisa on well-being considerations in the early curriculum

Q: What will be done to adjust the balance and pace of the curriculum to ensure children’s well-being and mental health are the foremost concern? My observation of the P-2 curriculum in particular is that it progresses at a pace that doesn’t give kids (even bright, affluent kids) a chance to feel like they have mastered any concept before they are plunged headlong into the next concept. Every 7yo I know talks with negative self-perception and is at risk of anxiety.

A: The Review has provided an opportunity to refine the curriculum, particularly in the Foundation to Year 2 year levels, to focus on the learning that matters most in each Learning Area. The essential content in each learning area has been identified and any non-essential content has been removed in order to give teachers the time needed to teach the essential content well.  

2.

Q: At what point will we realize that we’re generating a mass chronic mental health issue and learn to design the curriculum in a way that complements and nurtures natural child development in a way that enables all kids to feel a sense of achievement and success, and in doing so encourage them to define themselves as successful learners? How is the Review incorporating evidence from child health experts, child development experts and child psychologists?

A: The review has been informed by evidence from early years learning experts and experts in child and adolescent health and wellbeing to design the curriculum in a way that complements and nurtures child development. In the early years of learning the focus on the importance of allowing students to investigate and explore new concepts has been strengthened in line with the evidence of how children learn and develop. In the high school years, a focus in the Health and Physical Education curriculum and the Personal and Social Capability has been strengthened to support the development of self-awareness, self-management and the skills and understandings needed to become resilient individuals. 

If you missed our Parent Q&A on NAPLAN 2021 and the Australian Curriculum Review in April or would like to share the webinar, it is available on our Facebook page.