As students across the country prepare to sit NAPLAN, early childhood development specialists are encouraging families to look beyond the test itself and consider the foundations laid years before children enter the classroom.

GymbaROO-KindyROO, one of Australia’s leading early childhood development programs that has been in operation for more than 40 years, says early motor development plays a critical role in later academic performance.

More than 350,000 Australian students did not meet national proficiency benchmarks in the most recent NAPLAN results, prompted renewed discussions about how best to support children’s learning.

GymbaROO Education Coordinator Stephanie Lord-Darby said research consistently links early physical development with later cognitive and academic outcomes.

“Activities such as tummy time, crawling, climbing and coordinated play help build the neural pathways children rely on for reading, writing, concentration and problem-solving,” Ms Lord-Darby said.

Long-term research, including a 2013 study by Brinkman et al., has shown strong associations between early childhood development at age five and later reading and numeracy results. The Australian Early Development Census National Report 2024 similarly found that children who begin school developmentally behind are at greater risk of ongoing learning challenges.

GymbaROO-KindyROO recently introduced its Unlocking Potential program, focused on strengthening attention, emotional regulation, social confidence, motor coordination and executive functioning skills through structured, play-based movements.

Ms Lord-Darby said the aim is not academic acceleration, but building the core skills that underpin classroom success.

“The capabilities assessed in later testing are built gradually in the early years,” Ms Lord-Darby said. “Supporting development through movement and play gives children the strongest start possible.”