This week is National Literacy and Numeracy Week and Australia’s largest children’s education charity is highlighting that without early learning support, thousands more children will start school next year without basic literacy and numeracy skills.

The Smith Family’s NSW General Manager Annette Young said:  “There is a common misconception that all children begin their school journey with the same literacy and numeracy skills.

“However, research shows that 15.4 per cent of all children are developmentally vulnerable in language and cognitive skills before they start school. This increases to one in four children in our most disadvantaged communities.

“It’s vital for the wellbeing of children that we continue to work collectively - families, early childhood educators, governments and communities - to ensure disadvantaged children are supported to be school ready, with ongoing targeted support available throughout their school journey.

“The long-term consequences of failing to support these children early - to develop the skills they need to catch up to their peers and fully participate at school - are disengagement, absenteeism and a high risk of dropping out and failing to reach Year 12.

“The Smith Family is concerned about the large gaps in educational achievement based on students’ backgrounds. We recognise children growing up in highly disadvantaged families may not have access to the learning support and resources they need to develop their children’s early literacy and numeracy skills.

“And we will continue to work with families across Australian to help more children develop the crucial early reading and maths skills to give them that stronger start at school.”

Last year The Smith Family delivered its Let’s Read early literacy program to over 23,000 children, with 90 percent of parents surveyed indicating they read more with their child after taking part. The Let’s Count early maths program reached over 5,000 children last year and is rapidly expanding.