The Government has announced new assessment for students from the first year of school.

Education Minister Erica Stanford says from 2025 phonics tests with children will begin at 20 weeks and 40 weeks of schooling.

Twice-yearly "progression monitoring" for reading, writing and maths would also be introduced for children in years three through eight.

Stanford says the assessment was intended to give parents certainty about their childrens' learning.

You can watch the press conference at the top of this page and follow along with the liveblog below: