The Early Years Learning Framework (Belonging, Being and Becoming) is the Australian Government’s national curriculum framework for children from birth to five years. It guides early childhood educators in developing quality programs that support children’s learning, development, and wellbeing. Understanding the EYLF is essential for every educator working in Australian early childhood settings.
The Three Foundational Concepts
The EYLF is built on three interconnected concepts. Belonging acknowledges that children’s sense of being part of a community shapes their identity and wellbeing. Being recognises the importance of the present moment: that childhood is valuable in itself, not merely preparation for the future. Becoming reflects children’s continuous growth and development as they learn, change, and build capabilities.
Principles, Practices, and Outcomes
The framework is structured around eight principles (including secure relationships, high expectations, and respect for diversity), eight practices (including responsiveness, learning through play, and intentional teaching), and five learning outcomes: 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; and children are effective communicators.
The EYLF in Practice
The EYLF is not a prescriptive curriculum. It does not tell educators what to teach or how to teach it. Instead, it provides a philosophical and pedagogical framework within which educators make professional decisions about programming, planning, and assessment based on the children in their care. This flexibility is both its strength and its challenge. It requires educators to exercise professional judgment, not simply follow instructions.
Documentation and the EYLF
The EYLF expects educators to document children’s learning through observations, learning stories, and developmental records that link back to the framework’s outcomes. This documentation should be meaningful, authentic, and reflective, not formulaic. Tools like Personhood360 are designed to align documentation with EYLF outcomes, making it easier for educators to demonstrate how their programming supports each child’s learning journey within the national framework.