The Government has invested $340 million over four years from 2017-2020 to ensure New South Wales students have the essential literacy and numeracy skills they need for success in learning and in life.

I'm advised that the Department of Education has provided instructional leadership support to 667 schools to develop the literacy and numeracy skills of at-risk Kindergarten to Year 2 students. More than 400 of the 667 schools supported through this strategy are located in regional and remote areas.

I'm also advised that through the Bump it Up strategy, the department has provided targeted professional learning to 137 schools to implement practices to increase the numbers of students performing in the top two bands of NAPLAN. Of these, 46 schools are in regional and remote areas.

The department recently announced the recruitment of 50 additional Literacy and Numeracy experts to provide professional learning for teachers in effective practices to support literacy and numeracy. This support will strengthen the provision of literacy and numeracy teaching for all New South Wales schools including regional schools.