The reaction follows Education Minister Simon Birmingham's plan to introduce literacy and numeracy checks for all year one students.

The plan includes the implementation of an adapted version of Britain's phonics screening check across primary schools by 2018, and the development and introduction of a numeracy check by 2019.

Parents and teachers unions have slammed the proposal and say it involves importing a test that has failed to improve reading skills in British primary schools.

Regional P&C president Rachael Sowden labelled the proposal as “stupid."

“They use words that are made up, it is not necessarily checking that the child can read words that are in the top 50 words they need to read,” she said.

“Do you need a test?

“How much is it going to cost?

“Realistically teachers could work out what the kids are doing themselves without a standardised test in year one.

“We talk all the time about exam stress and pressure, but are we just doing tests for tests sake?”

Dr Sowden said the hot topic was discussed at a regional education review in Armidale on Monday.

“One of the principals said, 'you can weigh a pic every day but it’s what you feed the pig that’s important’,” she said.

“Rather than spend the millions of dollars it would cost the Federal government to support the testing – how about spending it on interventions for these kids?

“They’re doing all these tests and they have added this and added that but they haven’t added any more to support the kids.

“You can test them all you like but if there is no one there to support them.

“All you are doing is telling them they have failed and you can’t do anything about it because you haven’t got the resources to.”