K–6 time allocation advice
Maximising teaching and learning time
The following curriculum time allocation advice is for K–6. This advice supports teachers and schools to maximise teaching and learning time in a school day, term and year.
Schools can use the time allocation advice to guide them in K–6 curriculum implementation decisions.
*Optional activities may include additional time for selected learning areas or Languages, assemblies, debating, ethics, religious education, sport, pastoral care and other school or sector requirements.
Image long description: A graph representing advice on the time allocation for all K–6 learning areas. This includes 50 per cent of time for English and Mathematics (with a minimum of 20 per cent of total time for Mathematics). Creative Arts, HSIE, PDHPE, Science and Technology each have 8 per cent of time. Optional Languages syllabuses and/or other activities have a recommendation of 18 per cent of teaching and learning time.
Support for school leaders and teachers
School leaders and teachers can use the following reflection questions to support curriculum implementation decisions.
School leaders
- To what extent do our current practices reflect the time allocation advice to meet the needs of our students, and any sector requirements?
- What effect do our current time allocations have on student learning?
- How will we support our staff to consider the time allocation advice in their planning for learning?
- Is there an opportunity to modify our time allocations to maximise learning opportunities?
- What do we need to consider in our use of the optional Language syllabuses and/or other activities time? For example, should we allocate additional time for a particular learning area or another activity?
- To what extent are we using our optional Language syllabuses and/or other activities time to meet the needs of our students, and sector requirements?
Teachers
- To what extent does my class timetable reflect the time allocation advice and support student learning?
- How do I maximise teaching and learning time in each day, term or year?
- How will I collaborate with colleagues to plan our allocation of time?
- Who can support me to ensure my time allocation best suits the needs of my students and school?
- How do I use the optional Language syllabuses and/or other activities time to maximise learning for all my students?
Use the downloadable resource Loading (PPT, 466KB)