Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool – funding guidelines 2026

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Summary

Early Years Assessment and Learning Tool (EYALT) new users in 2026

In 2026, services will be able to apply for access to the EYALT at any time until 18 September 2026, and have registrations finalised as per the intake periods. Please see the EYALT webpage for information on the EYALT Intake Periods.

Funded kindergarten services who register and are approved to use the EYALT for the first time in 2026 will have access to a service support package.

This support package includes:

  • a flexible grant of up to $3,150 (ex 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.

Approved providers will receive the EYALT grant in one instalment following their relevant intake period found on the EYALT website:

  • Payments will be made automatically through Arrival and can be tracked by the approved provider through its service agreement with the Department of Education (the department) on the Funded Agency Channel.

It is the responsibility of the approved provider to make the EYALT grant funding available to the service where the qualified early childhood teacher(s) and educators are employed and registered to use EYALT.

Change management grant

The change management grants allow services to tailor how they support EYALT implementation based on their individual change management and professional learning support needs and goals.

This may include:

  • covering the costs associated with setting up access to the EYALT, including time to engage practice and technical supports
  • covering the backfill costs of providing time for teachers and educators to:
  • attend the EYALT professional learning sessions
  • complete the self-paced e-learn modules
  • complete the EYALT modules for each child. This is anticipated to take 5-15 mins for each module for each child, reducing as familiarity with the modules increases
  • purchasing or upgrading IT equipment that is to be used for logging on and completing the tool modules (e.g. electronic tablet).

Please note that there is no additional funding supplied to services that are already registered to use the EYALT. However, teachers and educators from all services that use EYALT are welcome to participate in the EYALT specific professional learning opportunities on offer.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply to use the EYALT, services must meet the following criteria:

  • be approved to deliver a state-funded kindergarten for 3 and/or 4-year-olds with the program led by a fully qualified early childhood teacher,
  • be rated as at least Meeting the National Quality Standard (NQS) overall, or be in the process of applying for an NQS rating, and
  • have leadership and service commitment to supporting teachers and educators to attend and utilise professional learning to embed the EYALT in everyday practice.

Who can I contact?

If you need support or any further information, you can:

Early childhood education and careBusiness

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