Pilot aims to improve outcomes for preschool children

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has been engaged by the Australian Government to deliver the second phase of the landmark Preschool Outcomes Measure National Tool pilot across 2026 and 2027. 

The Preschool Outcomes Measure is a joint initiative of the Australian and state and territory governments supported by a $16.3 million federal funding commitment to support all states and territories to participate in the 2-year pilot.  

The two-year pilot marks a significant step forward under the Preschool Reform Agreement, which aims to maximise the benefit of the preschool year by improving outcomes for children. 

The Preschool Outcomes Measure National Tool provides early childhood teachers and educators with an evidence-based, validated formative assessment tool to measure children’s progress against national learning progressions in the critical year before full-time school, in areas of learning that are known to be important for children’s early development and future educational outcomes. 

Fully aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF V2.0), the tool aims to support high-quality, play-based learning without adding extra work for teachers.  

The two-year pilot will allow teachers and educators to assess how easy the tool is to use in daily practice, and how well it represents a child's learning both right now and as they grow over time. 

The pilot focuses on two vital domains of early childhood development: oral language and literacy, and executive function.  

Oral language and literacy 

• The way children understand and use language to communicate for a range of different purposes. Oral language and literacy include capabilities that help children express their ideas with creativity, precision and purpose. 

Executive function 

• The way children explore the world around them, develop positive relationships and understand themselves as learners. Executive function helps children stay focused, remember instructions involving more than one step, and break tasks into smaller steps. 

As a world leader in education research, ACER uses proven methods to develop assessments that ensure every child's learning is measured accurately and fairly, no matter their background. 

ACER will ensure the Preschool Outcomes Measure National Tool balances scientific accuracy with the needs of everyday preschool settings. The pilot is designed to see how the Preschool Outcomes Measure National Tool works across different early learning settings, turning complicated data into helpful, easy-to-use information for teachers and educators. 

In 2025, the National Applied Trial saw more than 700 teachers and educators from 381 early childhood education and care providers assess 4,370 children. In this year's pilot, around 650 teachers and educators from more than 230 preschool services have signed up for the pilot, with more to join in 2027. 

For more information, head to Preschool Outcomes Measure