Year 1 students and their teachers are on the frontline of important work being done to improve numeracy outcomes for all future public school students in South Australia.

Last year, a numeracy assessment tool trail of the Maths Assessment Interview (MAI) identified a significant number of children in years 3 and 4 were mathematically vulnerable in either place-value or multiplication and division.

As a result, it was decided the MAI should be used earlier in a child’s education to ensure teachers are equipped to identify children who are struggling and to intervene with the best strategies to progress their learning.

The screening tool provides primary teachers with a one-to-one interview script which prompts students to demonstrate what they know, understand, and can do in mathematics.

Teachers record students’ mathematical thinking and choices of the strategies they use while solving tasks to identify their mathematical thinking growth point against a trajectory of expected progress.

The numeracy check will be introduced for all year 1 students in South Australian public schools from term 1, 2026.

This year, all year 1 teachers will be provided with face-to-face professional learning so they are able to use the MAI. This is in addition to a mini trial conducted in term 1 this year with year 1 students at six schools, including Ingle Farm Primary School, to gauge how long the test takes to complete and ensure the design is appropriate.

Ingle Farm Primary School Principal Vanessa Mortimer said, here at Ingle Farm Primary School, we found the Year 3 Mathematics Interview Assessment conducted last year so beneficial for our teachers and students, we were keen to progress that work.

“In collaboration with the department, we have evaluated our work this year with all our students, and specifically participated in a small trial of year 1 testing”.

“This screening tool has not only provided clear assessment data for us to identify and help students, but it has quickly become an invaluable teaching tool”.

“To build on this work, we are also working with our families to shift negative mindsets about mathematics as we know it’s important our children are not limited by their parents’ experiences”, Ms Mortimer said.

The MAI mini trial undertaken in term 1 showed, of the small sample of students, those that found the assessment highly engaging were able to express their mathematical thinking and enjoyed the experience overall.

Read more about the Maths Assessment Interview.