The parent WhatsApp groups are already buzzing with the news that the first day of NAPLAN testing was paused and then restarted due to a nationwide technical issue with the online testing platform.
In the Cove understands that local schools in Lane Cove have been affected, along with many schools across the country, with students unable to begin their scheduled assessments at the planned time.
What is NAPLAN actually for?
NAPLAN is a nationwide assessment designed to give educators and governments a snapshot of how Australian students are developing essential literacy and numeracy skills.
The results allow parents, teachers and schools to see how students are progressing in reading, writing and mathematics over time. They also provide a comparison against national benchmarks and help show how students are performing within their school and across the country.
At a broader level, the results help education authorities monitor how schools and school systems are performing in these key learning areas. The data can highlight where teaching approaches are working well and where additional support or improvements may be needed.
For teachers, NAPLAN results are just one piece of information that can support their professional judgement about a student’s learning progress and literacy and numeracy development.
How can you support your child at this time?
Principal Psychologist & Education Consultant, Katrina Sheraton-Yu from PosAbility in Lane Cove West says the disruption also presents an opportunity to rethink how much importance is placed on NAPLAN testing.
“If a technical issue with a test causes a lot of anxiety, it’s a good reminder that we might be putting too much emphasis on the test itself,” she said.
She says many children — particularly those who are neurodivergent — may feel unsettled when routine changes suddenly.
“For neurodivergent children in particular, the disruption to routine can be the hardest part. Anything that breaks predictability can create anxiety — even if it’s not about the test itself.”
Katrina emphasised that NAPLAN is not designed to measure the success or failure of individual students and said the situation may be a good opportunity for parents to reinforce that message with their children.
“NAPLAN is really about providing a broad snapshot of how students across the country are progressing in literacy and numeracy,” she said.
In recent years, a growing number of parents have chosen to opt their children out of NAPLAN testing. Some feel the formal testing environment and the pressure surrounding the assessments particularly for younger students can create unnecessary stress without providing significant benefit for the child. We spoke to Katrina about this and she said that when parents approach PosAbility asking about tutoring specifically for NAPLAN, PosAbility’s focus is not on improving test scores.
“If parents come to us wanting help with NAPLAN preparation, our focus wouldn’t be on coaching a child to perform better in the test,” she said.
“We would be much more focused on supporting the child with any anxiety they may be experiencing around testing in general and helping them develop strategies to manage that.”
She said the aim is to support children holistically and help them navigate situations that may feel stressful.
“It’s about supporting their mental health and helping them build confidence to manage challenges like this.”
For parents concerned about their child’s reaction to the disruption, Katrina recommends focusing on reassurance and routine.
“The most helpful thing parents can do is focus on connection and routine. Spend time together, play a board game, go outside — things that remind children that this test is just a small part of their week.”
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has released a Statement
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) confirmed that testing has now resumed following the widespread technical issue.
A spokesperson said: “NAPLAN testing has now resumed following a widespread issue earlier this morning, which affected students being able to log on to the online platform to complete their assessments.
“We apologise for the disruption to students and schools, and thank them for their patience. The issue has now been resolved, and schools have been informed they can resume testing.
“We continue to monitor the platform to ensure students are able to complete their assessments without further issues.”
You can read the full media release here.
For many families, the disruption may also present a useful moment to remind children that tests like NAPLAN are only a small part of their learning journey.
Even large organisations and national systems occasionally experience unexpected technical problems. What matters most — in schools and in life — is how people respond and work together to solve them.
And if the stories coming home from school today are anything to go by, many Lane Cove students may remember “the day the computers wouldn’t compute” long after the test itself.
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