Curriculum Programs Foundation to 10

Resources

Minimum standards for school registration

The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority Guidelines to the Minimum Standards and Requirements for School Registration outlines that schools are required to provide all students with a planned and structured curriculum to equip them with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to complete their schooling and to make a successful transition from school to work, training or further education.

F–10 curriculum planning guidelines

• The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) provides curriculum planning guidelines for schools to support them in the design and delivery of high-quality school-based curriculum programs: VCAA Victorian Curriculum F-10 Revised curriculum planning and reporting guidelines.
• The VCAA also provides a comprehensive online Curriculum Planning Resource, which includes a self-assessment tool for schools and sample school-based curriculum plans.

Victorian Government priorities and departmental policies

The department provides information on the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM) and its elements to support schools’ to enact their curriculum programs.

Resources are available to schools to support them to comply with departmental policies.

Victoria’s approach to teaching reading F-2 implementation supports available to schools include:

• English lesson plans aligned to the Big 6, the English Curriculum 2.0 and the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0. This includes the Phonics Plus program in F-2 which uses a systematic synthetic phonics approach to teach reading
• webinars and other professional learning opportunities to support implementation of this approach to teaching reading
• teaching resources, to be available on ARC from term 4, 2024.

Learning sequences in English and mathematics for Levels 5 to 8 include links to:

• Victorian Curriculum-aligned learning and teaching resources
• differentiated and cross-curriculum-enriched content
• advice for planning, delivery, and assessment.

Physical and Sport Education resources include links to useful websites.

Languages Education resources include links to:

• information resources for schools, regions and reviewers (login required)
• the Victorian Curriculum: Languages
• department learning and teaching resources
• help for parents/carers to find a languages program in a Victorian government school.

Holocaust Education resources include links to:

• teacher professional learning
• background reading/viewing for teachers
• learning and teaching resources.

Sexuality and Consent Education resources include links to:

• professional learning
• useful websites
• department resources
• external resources
• information on working with parents and or carers
• external support services.

Career education resources include a dedicated Career Education resources website produced by the VCAA. Resources are available for all learning areas and capabilities of the Victorian Curriculum.

Teaching and Learning Resources – Selecting Appropriate Materials resources includes a template Parent Consent Form for viewing M/MA films or computer games.

Teaching about world religions

Teaching about Islam

Schools can book a Muslim guest speaker who is able to speak with students about the key tenets of Islam and their lived experience as adherents of the Islamic faith. This can contribute to a school’s program of teaching about major religions and world views (PDF) as part of the Victorian Curriculum F–10.

The Islamic Council of Victoria can provide Muslim guest speakers who have:

• a current Working with Children Clearance
• experience speaking with school-aged students
• familiarity with the department’s policies, including the Special Religious Instruction policy and Visitors in Schools policy.

The normal time for a presentation is about 45 minutes. On most occasions this will include the opportunity for questions and answers. Schools can discuss with the council any particular issues or focus points they would like the speaker to address. The council will help to match appropriate speakers with schools, giving consideration to factors such as geographic location.

While not required, schools are requested to make a payment of $300 to the Islamic Council of Victoria when a speaker is booked. This is to cover administrative costs, travel costs and other sundry expenses. Additional expenses may be involved if a speaker is travelling a long distance or where overnight accommodation is required.

Bookings can be made by contacting the Islamic Council of Victoria:

• phone: 03 9328 2067
• email: admin@icv.org.au
• key contact: Adel Salman, president.

For information on the key considerations for schools in teaching about Islam, refer to: A discussion with Adel Salman – President of Islamic Council of Victoria on Arc.

Teaching about other world religions, for example, Christianity and Judaism

Please refer to contacts listed within the Special Religious Instruction policy that can assist schools in identifying appropriate guest speakers for other religions.