what your child learns in Foundation (Australia)
typical age: 5-6 years · start of primary school (Prep / Kindy / Reception depending on state)
the year in one paragraph
Foundation is your child's first formal year of school. the focus is on oral language, early literacy, counting, social learning and play-based exploration. expect a lot of singing, rhyming, stories and hands-on activities.
what they study
English
- •recognising letters and the sounds they make
- •hearing and saying rhymes, syllables and individual sounds
- •reading simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like cat, dog, sit
- •writing their own name and forming letters correctly
- •listening to stories and responding with thoughts or predictions
Maths
- •counting to 20 forwards and back
- •recognising written numbers 0-20
- •comparing quantities (bigger / smaller / more / less)
- •sorting and describing shapes
- •everyday measurement (taller, shorter, heavier, longer)
Science
- •observing objects and living things
- •noticing changes in weather, seasons and environment
- •asking questions and gathering information through play
HASS
- •personal and family histories
- •my place in the community
- •similarities and differences between families
by the end of Foundation, most children can
- ✓knows all 26 letters (names and sounds)
- ✓can blend sounds to read simple CVC words
- ✓counts reliably to 20
- ✓can write their own name
- ✓recognises basic 2D shapes
these are typical expectations — children develop at different rates. talk to your teacher if you're concerned about pace.
key things to know about Foundation
Foundation is about settling in, not mastery. skills develop at very different rates. if your child is still struggling with letters or counting at the end of Foundation, talk to the teacher early in Year 1.
how to support at home
- •read aloud every night — even 10 minutes makes a measurable difference
- •count out loud during everyday tasks (cooking, packing lunches, setting the table)
- •point out letters and words on signs, packaging, books
- •let them try writing their name and don't worry about neatness yet
all year levels
Australian curriculum Foundation through Year 9
based on Australian Curriculum v9 (ACARA). states and territories adopt the curriculum with minor variations; Catholic and independent schools follow the same framework. for the official curriculum documents visit v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au. mini mode is not affiliated with ACARA.