The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) describes the principles, practices and outcomes that support and enhance young children’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school. The EYLF identifies secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships with children as one of the key principles underpinning practice. Respectful relationships are a cornerstone to supporting children’s learning and development, and play a significant role in a child’s sense of belonging and how they interact with the world around them. Learning outcomes are most likely to be achieved when early childhood educators work in partnership with families. Families are children’s first and most influential teachers. High expectations for every child require early childhood professionals to consider multiple ways of knowing and learning, to value children’s strengths and differences and to use these in their assessment and planning. In order to support each child’s learning trajectory, early childhood professionals must take responsibility for each child’s learning and development. Educators can encourage a positive environment by inviting diversity into the service. For example, providing a range of opportunities for children and their families to share their personal stories creates an atmosphere of cultural respect and acknowledgement of diversity. Reflective practice can be undertaken individually or with a group or team and can be practised in the moment or it can happen later by taking the time to think about an event or some aspect of practice. Educators can reflect with colleagues, children, families and other professionals. The 5 principles of the Early Years Learning Framework are documented on the National Quality Framework Resources Kit available in full here. The EYLF‘s aim is laying a firm foundation for future learning through learning and development that is planned around each individual child’s specific needs and interests. The framework is designed to accomplish this goal while at the same time providing a universal set of standards to help improve the quality and consistency in the early years sector. This is not a program to be followed rigorously but, rather a set of principles that are used to help ensure and stimulate every child’s ability to learn. The EYLF is Based on the Concept of Being, Belonging and Becoming:Being – simply means letting each child be who they are and letting children be children giving them the sense that they are free to explore the world around them. Belonging – Children learn best when they feel as though they belong to their families, to their communities and to the world at large. By helping a child increase his sense of belonging you can help provide a safe and comfortable environment in which a child can learn. Becoming – Simply means that a child continues to grow by experiencing new things. It is simply the acceptance that as a child learns and grows he is constantly changing. The Top 5 Principles Of The EYLF Program
In short the Early Years Learning framework is designed to include everyone in each child’s community to join in providing every child with the type of environment that gives them the security to feel free to explore, try new things and learn how to become a well adjusted productive member of society.
The EYLF is a guide which consists of Principles, Practices and 5 main Learning Outcomes along with each of their sub outcomes, based on identity, community, wellbeing, learning and communicating. The Learning Outcomes are to be used to reflect on children’s learning and focus on what a child can achieve rather than what they can’t. The Early Years Learning Framework enables childcare professionals, educators and early childhood teachers within an early childhood setting to extend and enrich children’s learning, provide opportunities for children to develop a foundation for learning and for children to become successful learners. PS: We have a variety of EYLF templates available in this site for LDC, FDC and OOSH settings. You can use our Learning Stories Templates, Observations, Family Input, Curriculum Plans, Daily Reflections and more. Each of these templates reflect on and provide clear links to the EYLF and we update them regularly. Remember to check them out in this link here: EYLF Templates What is EYLFThe EYLF is an abbreviation for Early Years Learning Framework' in Australia. EYLF is a framework – it’s not a program, it’s not a curriculum to follow, it’s not a syllabus. It is a foundation of Principles, Practices and Learning Outcomes to assist educators in designing a curriculum, using Learning Outcomes as goals for children to achieve and using the Principles and Practices to reflect of early education, care and learning. Understanding the Early Years FrameworkRegarding programming and documentation methods to use within the EYLF, it doesn’t give a specific format of documentation to follow, however it does provide us with a base for planning, contributing and evaluating children’s learning. It is open to interpretation and each educator will have their own understandings and ideas when implementing the EYLF within an early childhood setting. Identify and reflect on what you already do that supports the foundation of learning that is referred to throughout the EYLF and what else you can do to provide further opportunities. Most likely early childhood settings are already implementing a lot of the ideas within the framework such as offering play based learning environments, evaluating on the days experiences through the Daily Diary, documenting children’s learning through observations, extending on children’s interests and more. If this is the case, then there doesn’t need to be much change required within the centre. Concepts of the Early Years Learning Framework |