An overview of curriculum taught to South Australia students from birth to year 10.

Early years

The national Early Years Learning Framework (PDF 24.9MB) guides the learning of children from birth to 5 years of age and through the transition to school.

It's a guide to the programs in a range of early childhood settings. There is more information available on the early years curriculum on the sa.gov.au website:

• understanding the curriculum in the early years
• progress reports at preschool
• preschool and kindergarten.

Indicators of preschool numeracy and literacy

The department has developed indicators of preschool numeracy and literacy for teachers to use to identify, plan for, assess, monitor and report on each child’s learning and growth.

These are intended to provide parents and families with an understanding of the numeracy and literacy achievement of their children, and to support early years educators in the assessment and reporting of children’s progress.

More detail is available in the implementation for indicators of preschool numeracy and literacy (PDF 2.2MB) document.

Schooling – reception to year 10

The Australian Curriculum is taught in government schools for reception to year 10 students.

Teachers use curriculum to:

• plan student learning
• monitor and assess student progress
• report student progress to parents
• support student wellbeing.

The curriculum learning areas are:

• English
• mathematics
• science
• humanities and social sciences – history, geography, economics and business, civics and citizenship
• the arts – dance, drama, music, media arts, visual arts
• technologies – design and technologies, digital technologies
• health and physical education
• languages.

Elective for year 9 and year 10 students:

• Work studies.

There are 7 general capabilities that describe the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that children and young people need to live, learn and work successfully in a changing world.

• critical and creative thinking
• literacy
• numeracy
• information and communication technology capability
• personal and social capability
• ethical understanding
• intercultural understanding

There are 3 cross-curriculum priorities that provide global, national and regional dimensions to develop students knowledge, understanding and skills relating to:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
• Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
• Sustainability.

Years 10 to 12

Get information about curriculum and study options for students in year 10 to 12:

• Curriculum for year 10 to 12 students
• South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)
• Curriculum in South Australian Schools, sa.gov.au.

Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum

The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum is required for all children and young people in government schools and preschools, Catholic schools, and is used in independent schools. See information for educators.

Parents and families can also see Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum information for parents and families.