The NSW Government is delivering increased funding for the Small Group Tuition Program in NSW public schools this year, with $80 million invested to lift literacy and numeracy outcomes for students who need extra support to keep on track and meet their potential.
Initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Group Tuition Program was made permanent in NSW public schools through an election commitment delivered by the NSW Government.
This will enable students to get access to intensive and targeted teaching in the critical foundational skills of literacy and numeracy.
The ongoing Small Group Tuition Program is a central component of the Better and Fairer Schools Funding Agreement between the Commonwealth and NSW governments.
The NSW Government has enhanced the program to align with evidence-based explicit teaching, while new reporting requirements will also ensure there is a measurable impact on students’ learning progress.
The Small Group Tuition Program improves reading and numeracy skills for primary and secondary students, while also providing valuable practical experience for student-teachers pursuing their Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualifications, as they can be employed as tutors in the program.
With the lift in funding for 2025, schools will be able to increase Small Group Tuition interventions from 10 to 15 weeks.
The program has been informed by research undertaken by Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), which recommends tutoring students in small groups at the “needs additional support” NAPLAN proficiency level. Additionally, Grattan Institute research found Small Group Tuition is the most effective way of reducing learning and development equity gaps.
Funding is determined based on the amount of students identified through the 2024 NAPLAN proficiency standards, ensuring that resources are allocated where they are needed most.
NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the investment is part of the state’s record education funding, to ensure every public school student can achieve their full potential.
“In addition to this funding boost for Small Group Tuition, the new reporting guidelines will make sure we are monitoring student progress in developing critical literacy and numeracy skills.”
