Early Years Learning Framework

The Early Years Learning Framework (commonly known as EYLF) is the national curriculum framework for early childhood education in Australia, which commenced in 2009. It provides guidance for educators working with children from birth to five years of age in Australia, including long-day care, family day care, preschool and kindergarten settings. The EYLF outlines the principles, practices and learning outcomes intended to support children's learning, development and wellbeing during their early years.[1]

Development of EYLF

The EYLF was first introduced in 2009, and in 2012 became part of the implementation of Australia's overarching National Quality Framework (NQF) laws, regulations and quality ratings for early childhood education and care.[2] It was developed collaboratively by the Australian and State and Territory Governments with substantial input from the early childhood sector and early childhood academics. The Framework incorporates feedback from an extensive consultation process, including two national symposiums, national public consultation forums, focus groups, an online forum and case-study trials.[3]

The Early Years Learning Framework Professional Learning Program (EYLF PLP), was developed for the Australian Government by Early Childhood Australia in 2009, to provide ongoing professional support to childcare services in the EYLF implementation process.[4] The program was incorporated into the National Quality Standard Professional Learning Program (NQS PLP).[5] The NQS PLP focuses on assistance for services to meet the National Quality Standard.[6]

The Victorian Department of Education and Training adapted the EYLF and in 2016 published the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).[7] The VEYLDF has been implemented across Victoria providing a framework for working with children from birth to eight years of age (extending beyond the EYLF) covering the first years of primary school. While the EYLF moved to Version 2 in January 2023 the VEYLDF has no changes and remains in its original form.[8]

In April 2021 the Education Ministers of Australia announced a review and update of the EYLF.[9] The three-phase process concluded in late 2022, with findings and feedback from a range of pilots to inform recommendations for consideration by Education Ministers.[10][11]

In January 2023 the Australian Education ministers approved proposed changes and endorsed the use of Version 2.0 of the EYLF under the National Quality Framework.[12] Three new principles were introduced including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, sustainability, and collaborative leadership and teamwork. The original version 1 was revoked from February 2024.[8][13]

Description

The EYLF consists of three parts that outline the environment that educators in Australia should shape around children:[1]

  1. Principles: goals for the care, e.g. "Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships";
  2. Practices: guidelines for how to achieve the goals set out in the principles (includes hands-on examples);
  3. Outcomes: a list of 5 overall goals, each with 2-5 sub-goals. Each of those sub-goals has a list of things that the child could have done to meet the overall goal, serving as an easy reference for teachers (see example structure below):
  • Learning Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity
  • Learning Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world
  • Learning Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
  • Learning Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners
  • Learning Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

Relationship to the National Quality Framework and National Quality Standard

Australia's National Quality Framework (NQF) is the national system for regulating, assessing and improving the quality of early childhood education and care services.[2] Within the NQF, the EYLF provides the national curriculum framework that guides children's learning and development, while the National Quality Standard (NQS) sets the benchmarks against which services are assessed and rated.[14][15][16] Together the EYLF and NQS provide a consistent approach to early learning pedagogy, practice and quality assurance across Australia.[17]

Translations and accessibility

The Australian Department of Education has made the EYLF available in over 20 community languages to support accessibility for educators and families from diverse backgrounds.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Belonging, being and becoming: the early years learning framework for Australia" (PDF). Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority. Australian Government Department of Education and Training. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Commission, NSW Early Learning (2 December 2025). "About the National Quality Framework". education.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  3. ^ Australian Department of Education. "What is the Early Years Learning Framework". Department of Education.
  4. ^ "An Introduction to the Early Years Learning Framework". Early Childhood Australia Learning Hub. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  5. ^ "NQS PLP". www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Professional Learning Guide". Early Childhood Australia Learning Hub. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework: For all children from birth to eight years" (PDF). Department of Education and Training (Victoria). State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training). Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Education Ministers approve updates to national approved learning frameworks". ACECQA. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Approved Learning Framework Update". Macquarie University. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  10. ^ Lucas, Freya (12 January 2024). "The New and Improved EYLF 2.0 + MTOP 2.0". The Sector. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  11. ^ Lucas, Freya (6 April 2023). "Macquarie University team leads EYLF updates". The Sector. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  12. ^ [email protected] (30 January 2023). "Key updates in the Approved Learning Frameworks Version 2.0". www.esb.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  13. ^ Early Childhood Outcomes, NSW Early Learning Commission (21 February 2024). "Implementing the Approved Learning Frameworks V2.0". education.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  14. ^ "National Quality Standard". ACECQA. 13 November 2017. Archived from the original on 6 June 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  15. ^ Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). "National Quality Standard: Handout - January". ACECQA.
  16. ^ Staton, Sally; Houen, Sandy; Rankin, Peter; Thorpe, Karen (1 December 2025). "Improving Australia's quality rating and improvement systems for early childhood education and care". The Australian Educational Researcher. 52 (6): 4243–4268. doi:10.1007/s13384-025-00896-4. ISSN 2210-5328.
  17. ^ "Approved learning frameworks". ACECQA. 22 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  18. ^ Australian Government Department of Education. "Translations of Belonging, Being and Becoming - The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia - Information for Families". Australian Government Department of Education.
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