Re-mapping the territory : An overview of learning and literacy intervention provision in Australian primary education

This paper provides data on patterns of schools’ learning intervention provision in 2017, and discusses the utility of online sources to gather this information. Demographic, achievement, and intervention data were collected for a sample of 366 schools offering primary education across Australia’s five more populous states. Intervention offerings were analysed in relation to schools’ demographic and achievement characteristics.

General academic and literacy interventions were commonly offered, with statistically significant differences identified between the reported intervention offerings of schools in different states and sectors. Report of offering intervention/s was not associated with either schools’ size or levels of NAPLAN achievement.

The results are compared with the 1998 “Survey of Schools” on primary students with learning difficulties in Australia, and discussed in relation to research literature and educational policy. Future directions for: a) research into intervention provision in Australian schools; and b) utilizing online sources to explore educational research questions are identified.