Victoria has updated the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).
The updated framework includes Learning and Development Maps. The maps will help early childhood professionals understand and support children’s learning and development.
The VEYLDF continues to promote inclusive, high-quality practice, with a strong focus on child safety. It supports professionals and families to work together so children can develop as confident learners.
The online version of the updated VEYLDF includes the Learning and Development Maps. They are also included in printed copies being sent to services.
New Learning and Development Maps
The maps support early childhood professionals, school educators and families to understand how children's learning and development through the VEYLDF Outcomes continues into the first 3 years of school.
They support observation, planning and reflective practice. The maps can be used to help identify a child’s progress in learning and development. They can also support conversations between professionals, families and other services about children’s learning, their progress and the learning they will be supporting the child/children to develop next.
Other changes
The updated VEYLDF also includes several other changes. These include:
- a stronger focus on child safety and wellbeing
- clearer information about intentional teaching, and integrated teaching and learning approaches
- more cultural knowledge stories across the framework
- updated outcome descriptors aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework 2.0 (PDF, 24.9 MB) and the Victorian Curriculum F-10 Version 2.0
- new examples to show how the Practice Principles can be used in everyday practice.
These changes aim to make the framework clearer and easier to use.
Resources and professional learning
Resources and professional learning opportunities are available to help professionals and teaching teams understand and use the updated VEYLDF.
You can:
- access materials and recordings on the updated VEYLDF Resources webpage
- explore resources on the Early Childhood Hub (under the Resources tab).
There are also supporting materials linked to the cultural knowledge stories in the framework.
Time to prepare
Throughout 2027, kindergartens can align their programs with the updated VEYLDF.
From January 2028, the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority will engage with the updated framework during assessment and ratings visits.
This gives services time to:
- read the updated framework
- explore the Learning and Development Maps
- talk as a team about how the changes can support practice.
We will provide more professional learning and capability-building resources to support implementation. These will be guided by Victoria’s Kindergarten Teaching Excellence Approach.
Find out more
For more information about the VEYLDF and to access the updated framework, refer to the VEYLDF webpage.
Updated