What Is The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) in Childcare?
9 January 2025
In your search for the right childcare centre for your child, you’ve probably come across mentions of the Early Years Learning Framework (or EYLF) and wondered what exactly it means for your child’s learning and development.
Early childhood learning curriculum plays an important role in development and a child’s first steps into learning about themselves, as well as the world around them. The Early Years Learning Framework was put into place to ensure a consistent standard of quality education in childcare centres in Australia.
What is the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)?
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) sets the standard for high-quality early childhood curriculum in childcare centres across Australia. First introduced in 2009 by the Australian Government, the EYLF covers the learning and development goals for children from birth up to the age of 5 years old.
Childcare educators use the Early Years Learning Framework as a guide to develop early-learning curriculum — there are 3 key elements that the EYLF focuses on:
- Belonging – Guiding children towards understanding the relationships they have with their family, community, and the world around them by fostering positive experiences in such relationships. Having a sense of belonging is important for providing the support and context that children need as they grow.
- Being – Before children can become their future selves, they need to first figure out who they are. Early learning is structured in a way that allows children to simply be themselves in the present and gradually develop their own identity as they engage with different situations with their family and peers.
- Becoming – As children grow and become more independent as individuals, their identity, skills, and level of understanding will change. Early learning educators will continue to support the changing perspectives of children by creating opportunities that foster their unique capabilities.
How is the EYLF applied in childcare education?
The EYLF provides 5 Learning Outcomes for early learning in childcare education:
- Children have a strong sense of identity
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
- Children are confident and involved learners
- Children are effective communicators.
Each of these learning outcomes informs the structure and what should be included in the early learning curriculum.
Strong sense of identity
Educators help children foster a strong sense of identity by carrying out intentional actions as part of the learning curriculum. By acknowledging and responding sensitively to a child’s cues, signals, and cultural languages, they support the recognition of their own identity. Educators may also design routines such as daily schedules during childcare sessions to create a sense of familiarity and belonging for children.
Connectedness with the world
Educators create and facilitate group activities that support and build children’s skills in relating to their peers and the world around them. These activities can range from excursions to outdoor play, providing children with exposure to a range of natural materials in their environment. Through these experiences, children can learn essential values about caring for their environment and the relationship between animals, plants, and nature.
Strong sense of well-being
The EYLF involves fostering a strong sense of well-being in children, mentally, emotionally and physically. Children will learn how to approach challenging situations and how to manage their emotions and behaviour in a healthy way, with the support of educators. Physical play-based activities, on the other hand, will promote the development of motor and cognitive skills.
Confident and involved learners
Childcare is an important first phase of learning for children — educators utilise the EYLF to foster a love for learning and growth in children that will aid their future development. Children will be encouraged to engage in individual and collaborative explorative learning activities covering basic concepts from math to science.
Effective communication
The EYLF covers the teaching of foundational language skills such as reading, writing, listening and speaking. Children will be taught how to express themselves and understand others in conversation with peers and educators.
What does the EYLF mean for your child?
As a parent, you’ll naturally want the best for your child’s learning and development. The EYLF works to ensure that all approved childcare facilities in Australia meet the same standards of quality early learning education.
At Mary MacKillop Childcare, our early learning programs are designed using the EYLF and applied by experienced educators at each of our six early learning centres in Townsville.
