The Council of Australian Governments produced the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) in 2009. Developed for early childhood education and childhood practitioners working in care and education sectors, it looks to help children maximise their learning and develop the foundation they need for future success.
The national quality Framework has been made based on research on how early childhood influences a child’s learning and development. EYLF focuses on children ranging from newborn babies to five years old.
Importance of Childcare to Early Learning
There are different childcare services available in the Australian Childcare industry. Although it includes care for primary school-age children, it is primarily designed for children up to 5 years of age.
Children’s minds are like sponges.
Since they are highly impressionable and receptive to information, they need proper guidance. Good childcare can help a child develop several essential skills.
Childcare centres allow children to socialise with other children and forge bonds of friendship.
Children also learn to cooperate and share in a nurturing environment during this period. And they do this under the guidance of early childhood education practitioners. Here are some of the points Early Years Learning Framework focuses on:
- Developing a sense of identity and feeling connected to the world around them
- Learn to be confident and be an involved learner
- Develop their communication abilities and a sense of well-being.
The focus is on the holistic development of children. This helps bring about mental, physical, emotional, and social growth. It teaches a long-standing enthusiasm for learning. It also helps teach children the importance of respect and teamwork.
Influence of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) on learning outcomes
The Early Years Learning Framework is a structured play based learning method. Here, children develop and learn to understand the world around them and interact with it differently.
Children get to participate with people and objects in their environment actively. It helps them do this based on the core values of Belonging, Being and Becoming. EYLF is also based on three critical elements of Principles, Practice, and Learning Outcomes.
Teachers can look beyond preconceived expectations about what children can do and learn, and the active participation and partnership of this play based learning method are a win-win for both instructors and children.
For one, early childhood educators need a range of perspectives in their work. This includes both developmental theories and socio-cultural theories. With EYLF, they can put all the theories to test.
It helps educators challenge assumptions about the curriculum and lets them see how children react whilst nurturing positive interactions. It also helps them identify the different strengths and limitations. Instructors can then devise and change how they work so they are working fairly and justly.
The Purpose
The Early Years Learning Framework aims to help children augment their potential to the maximal point. It helps lay a strong foundation for future learning endeavours.
- The Framework stresses the importance of early education.
- It attempts to ensure that all children get access to quality guidance on interaction and learning
- It helps children get better at communication and experience all-around social and emotional growth.
The Framework helps early childhood education practitioners work synchronously with the parents. EYLF reflects upon the principles laid down in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It supports Goal 2 of the Melbourne Declaration on Education Goals for Young Australians. This urges all young Australians to become:
- Successful learners
- Creative individuals
- Active and informed citizens
The interactions and experiences in the program are thus both planned and unplanned. It promotes decision-making and makes connections between prior experiences and new learning.
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes are a critical element of the Framework.
The EYLF is highly oriented toward five principles and learning outcomes which are as follows:
- Strong sense of Identity
Children learn about themselves and construct their own identities. They learn to communicate with people and in places.
Identity is not stagnant. Experiences mould it. Children feel safe, comfortable, and assisted in a safe and nurturing environment. They develop their autonomy, strengths, and understanding of coexistence. Children cultivate informed and confident self-identities. More importantly, they learn to interact with others with care, empathy, and respect, directing them towards a positive pathway.
- Feeling Connected
Children experience living and learning with others in several groups. These might comprise families, regional societies, or early childhood settings. Soon, these interactions become complex. Then, children learn to participate actively in their surroundings.
They develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and understand the rights and responsibilities necessary for active community participation. Understanding the value of reciprocal relationships while acknowledging diversity with respect is an important part of their ongoing learning. This helps children become socially ethical and demonstrate concern for the environment.
- Strong sense of well-being
Events within and outside their early childhood settings can affect a child’s well-being. EYLF learning outcomes, principles and practices are aimed at reaching sensitively to their emotional states. This helps teachers construct children’s confidence and eagerness to immerse in learning.
As a result, children have a strong sense of social and emotional well-being. They learn to understand the complexities and challenges of everyday life. The focus is to make these young minds ready to meet challenges not just in the future but also in the moment.
- Confident and involved learners
With EYLF, children use exploration, cooperation, and problem-solving methods. Cultivating curiosity, perseverance, and creativity help children participate in and gain from learning.
As confident and involved learners, children get a sense of well-being also helps them become more confident. Active students can disseminate and modify what they have learned from one context to another. They learn to utilise skills like experimenting, hypothesising, researching, and analysing. They get to explore new ideas and theories, using their imagination and creativity.
- Effective Communicators
Children’s use of their languages underpins their sense of identity. It aids in their conceptual development. Children feel a sense of belonging when we value them. They also become more receptive to feedback and change ideas based on it.
They can interact using words, gestures, and symbols for various purposes, and overall become effective communicators. They learn to:
- Get acquainted with a range of texts and decipher the meaning.
- Be capable of expressing ideas and construct meaning using a range of media.
- Understand how symbols and pattern systems function.
- Children also have access to information and communication technologies. They get to explore ideas and illustrate their thinking.
What should you expect in your childcare?
Every child has a different but equally meaningful way of progressing towards their learning outcomes.
Are you looking for a childcare centre for your child? Here is how they can help play a role in your children’s lives and their holistic growth.
Physical development
Childcare employs a play based learning method that betters the physical wellbeing children achieve in life, so children have a strong sense of wellbeing, and learn the right social skills to feel significant in their lifestyle choices. Multiple play activities can stimulate gross motor activities in children and benefit their own health. Activities like hopscotch, running, puzzles, and play dough modelling ensure all-around development.
Social development
Childcare centres happen to have one of the earliest social settings for a child. For one, a child gets to interact with other children of the same age group and the teachers. This propels the social development of children and helps them improve on their current abilities.
They also learn to engage and interact with others and understand the importance of communication and cooperation, becoming effective communicators. In turn, this aids in their social skills and development journey.
Emotional development
Children become increasingly adept in the process of relating to others around them. In turn, they start to achieve important milestones. They learn important values like coexistence and empathy as they interact with others. And while they are at this, they find friends and discover the significance of trust, sharing, and interdependence.
In turn, children develop resilience and interdependence with others. They also get to understand different points of view and share aspects of their culture with others.
Cognitive development
The curriculum boosts the child’s capacity to remember and actively think about what is happening around them and investigate ideas. Childcare centres provide children with a variety of new materials. They introduce them to new experiences and encourage them to investigate and experiment.
Language Development
Childcare centres improve children’s language skills by introducing them to new words. Children improve their language skills by communicating with their peers and teachers. Dramatic plays, storytelling, and even casual conversations sharpen their language skills.
Finding the right childcare
The EYLF framework focuses on an integrated approach to learning and creates broad and observable outcomes. We understand finding the perfect childcare may be confusing and tedious. Don’t worry. We have curated a list of factors you should consider to help you narrow down your search for the right childcare.
- The total number of hours of childcare that you require every week
- The childcare choices in your locality and the cost of their services
- Whether you want childcare that reflects your familial interests and values. This includes food preferences, musical choices, and so on.
- If you want your child to be acquainted with cultural and social diversity
- Whether you want childcare that’s similar you the care provided at home
There are many high quality early learning centres across Australia to support families, from long daycare centres to casual placements, offering education and care services for children aged from 0 to school readiness programs. Do your research, and you’ll find the right centre for you and your child.