Training schedule for the early language, literacy and numeracy tool

The Division of Ozamiz City has released its calendar for the division-wide training rollout of the Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment Tool. Sessions will run across multiple batches over the coming weeks, giving teachers and school heads plenty of chances to get across the new instrument before it lands in classrooms. The rollout reflects a push to standardise how foundational skills are screened in the early grades.

For Australian educators, the rollout offers a useful parallel to NAPLAN and the Phonics Screening Check, though the ELLN tool sits earlier in the learning journey and leans on play-based observation. Teachers in Melbourne and Sydney who work with Filipino-Australian students will recognise many of the screening domains, from phonemic awareness to basic quantity sense.

What the training covers

The training is built around four interconnected modules that walk participants through the rationale, structure and administration of the assessment. The first module unpacks the theoretical background and shows how the tool aligns with the Kindergarten Curriculum Framework and the broader MATATAG reform agenda. Facilitators spend time connecting each subtest to specific learning outcomes.

The second and third modules shift into practical work, with hands-on practice administering the language and numeracy subtests. Participants rotate through stations, score sample responses and compare notes. The final module focuses on data-driven instruction, showing how results feed into remediation planning and parent conferences.

Who should attend the sessions

The schedule accommodates Kindergarten and Grade 1 teachers from both public and private schools within the division, along with school heads, reading coordinators and instructional supervisors. District supervisors are expected to attend at least one cohort to stay aligned with how the tool is being used in the field. Teachers who handled the pilot implementation last school year are encouraged to attend as peer facilitators.

Invitations have also been extended to school guidance counsellors and SPED focal persons, since the tool includes optional accommodations for learners with identified needs. Attendance counts toward regular in-service credit, and schools have been advised to stagger cover so classrooms are not left unattended. Substitutes are welcome to sit in where space allows.

Dates, venues and session times

Training runs in six batches between September and November, each spread across two full school days at the Division Training Hall and selected district satellite venues. Morning sessions kick off at half past eight, with arvo blocks resuming at one in the afternoon, a format that mirrors how Australian teacher development days are timetabled. A full agenda is being distributed through official channels.

Participants in the first three batches will train at the central hall, while batches four to six move to clustered district venues to cut travel time. Make-up sessions are scheduled in early December for anyone who misses their slot due to weather, health concerns or other valid reasons. The schedule deliberately avoids the peak enrolment period in October, when schools are head down on data submission and compliance tasks.

Registration and pre-work requirements

Teachers register through the standard in-service training portal, with slots released in waves to keep intake balanced across districts. Before attending, participants download the assessment tool manual, complete a short pre-reading quiz, and bring a tablet for the data entry practicum. Schools are advised to nominate at least two participants per grade level.

For administrators tracking leave and attendance while teachers are at training, the new electronic self service portal for deped ozamiz employee leave applications makes coverage checks far easier. Registration closes one week before each batch starts, and late entries land on a waiting list for the next cohort. Participants who complete all four modules receive a certificate of training completion that counts toward professional development hours.

Components of the assessment tool

The ELLN Assessment Tool is divided into three main strands: oral language, early literacy, and foundational numeracy. The oral language strand covers expressive vocabulary, listening comprehension and narrative retelling, while the early literacy strand focuses on letter knowledge, decoding and print concepts. The numeracy strand looks at number sense, patterning, basic measurement and spatial reasoning.

Each subtest includes clear scoring rubrics, sample scripts and cut-off scores that flag learners who may need targeted intervention. The tool also comes with a parent-friendly summary sheet that teachers can share during home visits and parent-teacher conferences. Schools are encouraged to weave the tool into their existing screening calendar rather than treating it as a standalone event.

Expected outcomes for teachers and learners

By the end of the training cycle, teachers should be able to administer, score and interpret the assessment with confidence, and use the data to shape responsive instruction in the following weeks. Schools can expect more consistent identification of learners who need reading or numeracy support, along with clearer documentation for referrals and parent communication. The division hopes the rollout will tighten the feedback loop between assessment and classroom practice.

For learners, the tool promises a more child-centred screening experience that respects where they are developmentally, rather than rushing them through tasks they are not ready for. Teachers often find that the structured prompts spark richer conversations with children than their books typically elicit. Follow-up mentoring visits are planned for the term after training concludes.

Head to the DepEd Ozamiz portal to download the full schedule, secure your slot and check any updated venue allocations before travelling. Teachers handling learner grade disputes this term can brush up on the appeal process, which pairs neatly with the assessment literacy gained during training. Queries about your assigned batch should go to the district training coordinator through the official channels.