Southern Rise Children’s Centre in Wodonga is using the Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool (EYALT) to build a clearer picture of each child’s learning and development.
The EYALT is an online observation-based formative assessment resource. It is designed to help early childhood teachers and educators understand each child’s unique strengths, interests and abilities. It also helps them to understand and support children's learning.
The team introduced the EYALT in 2025. They initially planned to use it to support assessment for 4-Year-Old Kindergarten but soon saw the benefits of extending it to 3-Year-Old Kindergarten.
The team use it across the 2 assessment cycles. The reports help inform their planning, supporting them to set individual goals and inform conversations with families.
Bringing information together
Team leader Ebony Ablett-Johnstone said one of the biggest benefits of the EYALT is that it brings together the information teachers have about each child.
‘The EYALT is a way of collating all our knowledge of the children,’ Ebony said.
‘This includes information gathered through observations, conversations with families, enrolment information and everyday interactions with the children.’
This gives them a clearer picture of each child’s learning outcomes.
Setting goals and planning
The team completed their first EYALT assessment early last year and shared information from the reports with families as a mid-year report. The reports replaced their previous mid-year term summary.
The teachers used the reports to help set goals and plan for the rest of the year.
They then used EYALT reports from the second assessment cycle to set goals for the children moving to 4-Year-Old Kindergarten. The reports also helped inform Transition Learning and Development Statements.
Nicky Henderson is an educational leader and nominated supervisor at the service. She said, ‘using the EYALT supports early years educators in forming a more global picture of where the child is at and where they are going.’
‘Goals and supports can be delivered at the level that each child is at and in all areas of development supporting the children’s development.’
The team have seen the development of the children in the reports over the 2 years.
Taking the time to learn
Nicky’s advice is to take time to become familiar with the tool. She found the more the team used it, the easier and quicker the process became.
‘When you first start filling out the areas for each child it can be overwhelming,’ she said.
‘Work on the assessments throughout Term 2, adding what you know about the child rather than leaving it and doing all your group at once.’
‘It is okay to have gaps. These are areas you can visit and talk with your team about in your program.’
Building on their experience
As the team has become more familiar with the EYALT, they have started exploring more functions. This includes using Group Reports to support setting room goals for their programs.
They are also looking more deeply into the suggested activities in the Learning Report and using this to support families and teachers.
Find out more
For more information about the EYALT, refer to Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool.
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