How to Talk to Your Child About Their NAPLAN Results

When your child’s NAPLAN results arrive, it is normal to wonder what to say first. You may want to celebrate their strengths, ask about a result you did not expect or reassure them if they feel disappointed.

The conversation does not need to focus only on scores or proficiency levels. It can be an opportunity to help your child understand what the results show, recognise the progress they have made and feel supported in the areas they are still developing.

Choose the right time

You do not need to discuss the report as soon as it arrives.

Choose a time when you and your child are not feeling rushed, tired or distracted. It can also help to read the report yourself first so you have time to understand the results and manage your own reaction.

Ask how they felt about NAPLAN

Before discussing the results, ask your child what they remember about the assessments.

They may have found one area particularly difficult, felt nervous on the day or rushed through some questions. Their experience can provide useful context for the report.

Questions you could ask include:

• How did you feel during NAPLAN?
• Which assessment felt easiest?
• Was there anything you found confusing?
• Did you feel like you had enough time?
• Do the results feel similar to how you thought you went?

Try to listen without immediately correcting or reassuring them. Giving your child space to explain how they felt can help you understand the result from their perspective.

Begin with their strengths

Before focusing on areas that may need support, point out something positive.

This may be a Strong or Exceeding result, an improvement since their previous NAPLAN assessment or a subject they approached with persistence.

You could say:

“You have shown some really strong skills in reading.”

Or:

“I can see how much effort you have been putting into your maths.”

Not every positive needs to come directly from the score. Completing the assessments, continuing through difficult questions and managing test-day nerves are also worth recognising.

Explain that NAPLAN is only one part of the picture

NAPLAN measures literacy and numeracy skills at a particular point in time. Your child’s teacher also considers their classwork, assignments, participation and progress throughout the year.

Let your child know that one result does not define their ability or predict what they can achieve.

You might say:

“This report gives us some information about the skills you showed on those days. It does not tell us everything about you as a learner.”

Use neutral language when discussing lower results

Try to avoid words such as “bad”, “failed” or “behind”.

NAPLAN reports use four proficiency levels: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support. These levels describe the skills a student demonstrated at the time of testing.

If your child receives a Developing result, explain that it  means their skills are still growing.

You could say:

“This shows us there are some skills you already understand and some we can keep working on.”

If the report shows Needs additional support, keep the conversation equally calm:

“This helps us see where you may need some more support. We can speak with your teacher and work out what will help.”

Focus on the next step

Children may feel overwhelmed if a result is presented as a large problem they need to fix.

Instead, focus on one or two practical next steps. This may include speaking with their teacher, practising a particular skill or finding additional learning support.

Ask your child:

“Is there anything you would like more help with?”

Including them in the conversation can help the next step feel supportive rather than like a consequence of their result.

Speak with their teacher before making assumptions

A NAPLAN report may show that your child found an assessment area difficult, but it does not always explain why.

Their teacher can help you understand whether the result reflects what they see in the classroom and which specific skills may need attention.

Useful questions include:

• Does this result match what you have noticed in class?
• Which skills appear to be causing difficulty
• What should we focus on first?
• What support is already being provided at school?

How Kinetic Education can help

No matter what your child’s NAPLAN results show, Kinetic Education can support them at the right level.

If they are finding certain areas difficult, their personalised Maths and English tutoring can help strengthen important skills and build confidence. If they are already performing strongly, their learning can continue to challenge them and help them move ahead.

Their weekly learning plan is tailored to what they need to work on, with short, interactive lessons they can complete from home. Their tutor monitors their progress, adjusts their learning and is available when they need help understanding a question or concept.

Whether your child needs to catch up, keep up or get ahead, Kinetic Education can help them continue building their skills step by step.