Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool (EYALT)

Introduction to the Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool

The EYALT is an online resource co-designed with early childhood teachers to help understand each child's unique strengths, interests, and abilities. Whether you're new or experienced, EYALT is a valuable tool for all early childhood professionals.

It helps by:

documenting interactions to understand each child better
showing how children progress in their learning over time
integrating seamlessly with daily teaching practices
generating evidence for informed discussions with school teachers
improving observations and assessments for intentional teaching
supporting continuity of learning during transitions to school.

Go to the tool

Watch this video for an overview of the EYALT.

EYALT 2024 SketchGroup video update

View transcript

Apply to use EYALT

In 2026, providers can apply at any time until 18 September 2026 to use the EYALT through the EYALT Application Form.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and processed through scheduled intake cohorts aligned to Term 3 and Term 4 onboarding cycles (see below).

Term	Application closing date	Service onboarding date
Term 3 2026	26 June (last day of Term 2)	July 2026 (early Term 3)
Term 4 2026	18 September (last day of Term 3)	October-November 2026 (Term 4)

What happens after you apply?

Once submitted, applications are assessed and processed within the next scheduled intake cycle. Services already approved to use EYALT do not need to reapply.

Applications submitted after an intake cut-off date will be considered in the next available cohort.

What supports do new services receive?

Approved services receive a support package, including:

a flexible grant of $3,150 (excluding GST) to support activities required to implement and embed use of the EYALT in the early years planning cycle
access to a range of EYALT specific professional learning events and resources
dedicated practice support through Kindergarten Improvement Advisors in your department area
written guidance and technical support, including instructional videos in the EYALT itself.

Funding guidelines

For information on the support package, refer to the relevant Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool funding guidelines below.

2026 intakes

2026 Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool funding guidelines.

January 2025 intake

Mid year 2025 intake

End of year 2025 intake

Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool funding guidelines - End of Year Intake (DOCX, 61KB)

Professional learning for 2026

This year's professional learning program builds on previous success, consists of tailored sessions to meet your needs and includes:

Register for introductory sessions: Early registration is encouraged to secure your spot. Details can be found at Semann & Slattery.

All services registered to use EYALT are invited to attend. All sessions are online only, to make it easier to attend.

Please note that funding is only available to services new to EYALT in 2026. Please refer to the funding guidelines above.

How EYALT works

The EYALT has 8 modules. They are based on the Learning Domains and align with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and the Victorian Curriculum. Each module focuses on a different part of a child's development.

The 8 modules are:

‘Identity and community - social’ is about children communicating their wants and needs, playing alongside each other, and developing relationships.
‘Wellbeing - emotions’ is about children feeling good about themselves and expressing their emotions during play.
‘Learning dispositions’ is about how children might show curiosity, ask questions, or show perseverance.
‘Communication - interactions’ is about eye contact, gestures, and attention.
‘Communication - symbols and texts’ is about children recognising signs or text.
‘Learning and communication - numeracy’ is about numbers and maths concepts.
‘Wellbeing - movement’ is about children’s motor skill development.
‘Learning and identity - thinking skills’ is about children being curious and inquiring about their world.

In each module, educators respond to a series of questions which draw on the child’s existing knowledge. When complete, the EYALT generates a Learning Report showcasing the child's strengths and interests.

Watch this video to hear about a teacher’s real experiences with using EYALT.

Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool

View transcript

The EYALT is part of our $22 million effort to support quality practice. It enhances best practices following the VEYLDF Practice Principle: Assessment for Learning and Development.
The EYALT helps teachers and educators to consistently observe and assess children’s learning. It provides a clear and systematic way to understand children's abilities that supports them to teach with intention. This is key for planning and delivering quality kindergarten programs. It sets up every child for success in learning.
Importantly, the EYALT is not an interview or a test. It’s a tool that teaching teams can use to better understand each child’s strengths, interests, and abilities. This helps them plan what the child should learn about next. The tool uses observations of children and encourages reflection on the learning process.
In conjunction with Teaching Excellence, we have launched Victoria’s Kindergarten Learning Progressions, which help educators tailor teaching strategies to better support learning and development.
These progressions:
- indicate a child’s capabilities across key learning domains
- support tailored teaching strategies based on developmental learning models
- support smooth transitions between Three- and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, and between early childhood and school settings.
Victoria Learning Progressions Brochure
PDF 1.28 MB

(opens in a new window)

The Learning Progressions are supported by the Victorian Kindergarten Learning Progressions professional learning on the Early Childhood Hub.
The evidence-based Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool (EYALT) was developed to support teachers and their co-educators to be more targeted in their observations and intentional in their teaching practice. This provides a more consistent and systematic approach to assessment for learning and understanding of children’s abilities.
The EYALT was developed over many years. In 2020, the University of Melbourne was engaged to work with the former Department of Education and Training to develop and pilot it. The approach was to develop the EYALT from the existing Early ABLES tool already in use in kindergarten programs.
Over 50 early learning practice experts worked closely with assessment psychometricians, researchers and kindergarten teachers to create the EYALT. It was tested and proven as a high quality assessment tool for teachers and educators delivering kindergarten programs.
The EYALT was developed using data from more than 5,000 observations of children by more than 300 teachers and educators from over 150 services. Evidence has shown the EYALT works for all children, from all backgrounds, cultures and abilities.
The University of Melbourne (UoM) has been appointed by the Department of Education (department) to undertake a project to demonstrate the alignment of the Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool (EYALT) with the national learning progressions currently under development as part of the Australian Government’s Preschool Reform Agreement (PRA). The alignment process for EYALT has been agreed between the Australian Government and the department and is being undertaken from September 2025 to February 2026.
Find about more about the Preschool Outcomes Measure.(opens in a new window)

Support and getting started

EYALT guidance materials, including log-in guides, how to videos, technical guides and instructions, can be found under the ‘Guidance Materials’ tab within the EYALT platform.

EYALT helpdesk

For additional EYALT support and queries services can contact early.years.assessment@education.vic.gov.au.

Early childhood education and care

Updated 7 May 2026