If your child is in primary or middle school, you’ve probably heard about NAPLAN. For many parents, it’s one of those school events that brings a mix of curiosity and concern. You might wonder how much it really says about your child’s learning, and whether the negatives of NAPLAN sometimes outweigh the benefits.

According to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), around 95% of students took part in NAPLAN in 2023. That means almost every child across the country sat down for these tests, yet many families still feel uncertain about what it all means and whether the experience helps or harms learning.

In this guide, we’ll talk about what NAPLAN is, the negatives of NAPLAN that parents often notice, and how you can support your child with calm, confidence, and care.

Key Takeaway

• NAPLAN gives a broad sense of how students are tracking, but many parents and teachers feel it doesn’t always show the full story of a child’s learning.

• The test can create stress and comparison, shifting focus from curiosity to performance.

• Delayed results make it hard for teachers to provide timely feedback or targeted support.

• Calm routines and reassurance help children stay confident and relaxed during NAPLAN week.

• The FunFox Writers Club nurtures creativity and confidence, helping children enjoy learning beyond test scores.

What Is NAPLAN and Who Takes It?

NAPLAN stands for the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy. It’s a yearly set of tests taken by students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across Australia. Each test focuses on a core skill area, reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and numeracy.

The goal is to give schools and families a general look at how children are developing in literacy and numeracy.

While NAPLAN helps create a national picture of learning progress, many parents and teachers question how well it captures each child’s true ability, a concern that fuels the ongoing NAPLAN debate.

The Ongoing NAPLAN Debate: Does It Really Help Children Learn?

Over the years, the NAPLAN debate has sparked countless conversations among parents, teachers, and education experts. Some believe the test helps track progress across the country, while others feel it adds unnecessary stress for students and schools.

Supporters say NAPLAN can:

• Show how students are performing compared with national benchmarks.

• Help schools identify areas that need more focus.

• Give teachers a way to measure long-term learning trends.

But critics raise valid concerns, pointing out that test results often arrive months later, making them less useful for day-to-day teaching. They also question whether one test can truly measure creativity, problem-solving, or growth over time.

These concerns are what lead many parents and teachers to speak about the negatives of NAPLAN more openly..

Curious about how NAPLAN began and why it’s still used today? Read the History of NAPLAN: Everything You Need to Know About the Test.

Turn the negatives of NAPLAN into new learning moments with FunFox’s gentle approach that builds confident, curious learners.

Book a Trial Class Today!

Negatives of NAPLAN: What Parents and Teachers are Concerned About

Parents and teachers often share the same goal, helping children learn with confidence. But when it comes to NAPLAN, many feel the process sometimes creates more stress than support. These concerns don’t come from opposition to learning checks, but from wanting children to feel capable and cared for while they grow.

1. Pressure and Test Anxiety

• NAPLAN can feel like a “big deal” to children as young as eight. Even when schools keep things calm, the idea of being compared can still cause worry.

• Teachers notice that some students who normally enjoy learning become quieter or more hesitant during the testing week.

• For sensitive learners, one difficult test day can overshadow their sense of progress.

2. Teaching to the Test

• In the lead-up to NAPLAN, classroom time often shifts toward practice questions rather than open discussion or creative tasks.

• Teachers sometimes feel torn between nurturing curiosity and covering test material.

• Over time, this can make learning feel more like memorizing than exploring ideas.

3. Unequal Access and Opportunity

• Students who need more language support or who don’t have reliable access to devices may face extra limitations.

• Families with fewer resources may find it harder to support preparation at home.

• The test doesn’t always reflect the strengths of children who think differently, learn through conversation, or express ideas better in other ways.

4. Limited Value for Individual Students

• NAPLAN results arrive months after the test, long after the moment when feedback would have been most useful.

• The scores show where a child sits compared with others, but not why they might be struggling or how to help.

• Many parents say they value the teacher’s comments far more; they feel personal, specific, and encouraging.

5. Impact on Teachers and Schools

• Teachers often feel pressure to maintain strong averages, even when they know their students are doing their best.

• The focus on performance can shift school conversations from growth to comparison.

• Some schools worry about how results look publicly, rather than how each child is improving privately.

These shared worries show why the negatives of NAPLAN continue to spark discussion. Parents don’t want testing to disappear; they simply want it to reflect children’s real learning stories, not just their test results.

If you’d like practical ways to help your child feel ready and confident, read How to Score Better in NAPLAN: Steps for Students and Parents Preparation.

Helping Your Child Stay Calm and Confident Around NAPLAN

When test time feels heavy, what children need most is steady reassurance from the people they trust. Many parents notice small changes at home, quieter moods, questions like “What if I get something wrong?”, or sudden hesitation about school. These moments simply show that children care and want to do well.

You can help by keeping the focus on connection, not comparison. Calm routines, patient listening, and gentle encouragement do far more for confidence than any practice test ever could.

Keep Learning, Gentle and Personal

• Read together when the day quiets down, a bedtime story, a poem, or a few pages of a favorite book.

• Let your child choose stories that make them laugh or wonder. Interest matters far more than difficulty.

• Encourage writing in small, real ways, a grocery list, a note to grandparents, or a story about the family pet.

• Use everyday moments to talk about numbers, baking, counting coins, or measuring how tall they’ve grown.

• Listen closely when your child asks questions. Those conversations are learning at its best.

Help Your Child Feel Safe and Supported

• Remind them that NAPLAN isn’t a pass-or-fail test; it’s simply one way for teachers to see how everyone’s learning.

• Keep evenings calm, familiar routines, favorite books, and quiet family time help children feel grounded.

• If your child seems anxious, talk about what to expect in simple terms and remind them that effort matters more than results.

• Praise their persistence: “You worked so carefully on that,” or “I saw how you didn’t give up.”

• When mistakes happen, treat them as part of growing; every challenge builds patience and courage.

Stay Connected With Teachers

• Ask teachers what’s going well and where your child might need gentle support.

• Share what your child enjoys learning about at home. Teachers love knowing what sparks curiosity.

• If worry builds, reach out early. Schools often make small adjustments to help children feel comfortable.

• On test mornings, keep things slow and kind, a good breakfast, a smile, and a reminder that one test doesn’t define their future.

The most meaningful learning happens in everyday moments, shared stories, kind words, and small wins. When home feels calm and supportive, children carry that confidence into every classroom, including on NAPLAN day.

How the FunFox Writers Club Builds Confidence Beyond Tests

After the intensity of tests like NAPLAN, many parents want their children to feel confident, expressive, and curious again. That’s where the FunFox Writers Club helps.

Designed for children in Years 1–7, the Writers Club is a creative writing program that makes learning feel joyful and supportive. Instead of worksheets and pressure, children learn through storytelling, games, and gentle guidance in small online groups led by caring, experienced teachers.

In each session, children:

• Strengthen grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary through meaningful practice.

• Create original stories, poems, and characters that bring imagination to life.

• Learn to express ideas clearly and confidently, skills that last far beyond NAPLAN.

• Receive personal feedback in every class to help them grow at their own pace.

• Feel seen and supported in a small group of just six students per teacher.

The Writers Club fits easily around busy family schedules, offering weekly one-hour lessons and access to our interactive digital learning portal for extra practice and fun.

At FunFox, we believe learning should be warm, engaging, and personal, not stressful. That’s why families across Australia trust our programs to help children rediscover the joy of writing.

Worried about the negatives of NAPLAN? Help your child rebuild confidence and joy in learning with FunFox’s supportive writing classes.

Join a Free Trial Today!

Final Thoughts

The negatives of NAPLAN can sometimes feel heavier than they should, especially for children who just want to do their best. But tests come and go, what stays is your child’s confidence, curiosity, and love for learning. The real story of progress is written in everyday moments of effort and encouragement, not a single score.

That’s where FunFox helps turn the negatives of NAPLAN into something positive. Our small-group classes give children a calm, supportive space to grow their reading and writing skills with warmth, laughter, and personal attention. Whether your child joins the Readers Club to strengthen comprehension or the Writers Club to express their ideas clearly, they’ll rediscover that learning can be both rewarding and fun.

Help your child stay confident, curious, and connected to learning long after test week has passed.

Book a call today to learn more about how FunFox can support your child’s growth.

FAQs About NAPLAN

1. What are the disadvantages of NAPLAN?

Some key drawbacks include increased stress and anxiety for students, a tendency for teachers to “teach to the test,” and the limited usefulness of results for guiding day‐to‐day learning.

2. Does NAPLAN affect a child’s school grades or class placement?

No, NAPLAN is a diagnostic tool, not a pass/fail exam. It doesn’t directly influence school grades or promotions.

3. Is NAPLAN fair for all students, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds?

Critics point out that students without equal access to preparation, devices, or support may be at a disadvantage, raising equity concerns about the test.

4. When do NAPLAN results usually come out, and how useful are they?

Results often arrive months after the test, reducing their usefulness for immediate instructional adjustments or support.

5. How does FunFox help children beyond NAPLAN testing?

In the FunFox Writers Club, students build writing confidence through creative exercises, small classes, and feedback that focuses on growth, helping them feel proud of their voice, not just a test score.