WA teachers call for more time and support to teach reading

The Age

08-05-2025

West Australian primary school teachers are calling for stronger and more consistent support when it comes to teaching reading, with a new report revealing many are worried schools don't have a 'coherent whole-school approach' to the subject.
The inaugural National Teaching of Reading Survey 2024, from the Primary English Teaching Association Australia, has exposed some systemic gaps in the way reading is taught.
Around half of those surveyed said there was no coherent whole-school approach, while most preferred teacher-created or third-party materials to Education Department resources they were provided with.
But 75 per cent of teachers indicated they felt well-equipped to teach reading.
'Overall, teachers show a nuanced approach to text selection ... progressing appropriately in text complexity as students' reading skills advance,' the report states.
'However, differentiation remains a significant challenge with variability in student ability, time constraints, and limited resources as major hurdles.'
The association's board president and associate professor and researcher at Edith Cowan University, Dr Helen Adam, said it was time to move the conversation away from questioning teacher's knowledge and 'towards providing the system level supports they are calling for and need'.
'It's positive news for teachers and something that should be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops – they are teaching reading well, but they are doing it under pressure,' she said.
'They are overwhelmingly asking for greater support as they deal with complex and diverse classrooms.