The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) has recently been updated. It continues to support all professionals who work with children aged birth to 8 years.
Working in partnership with other professionals in the early years can create more sustainable ways of working that distribute effort, strengthen teamwork and improve access by children, families and early years professionals to the right support at the right time.
The VEYLDF
The VEYLDF:
The VEYLDF identifies five learning and development outcomes for all children from birth to 8 years:
- identity
- community
- wellbeing
- learning
- communication.
The VEYLDF recognises play is essential to learning in the early years and taking action to support children’s learning and development is most impactful when professionals use integrated teaching and learning approaches.
It provides practice principles to guide early childhood professionals to work together, with children and with families to achieve the best outcomes for every child.
The framework:
- enables you to work more effectively with other professionals and with families
- provides valuable guidance for supporting children and families in their transitions through the first eight years of a child’s life
- provides a shared language and guiding principles for achieving the best outcomes for every child by supporting continuity of learning.
Early childhood is a time of rapid brain development, when the foundations for learning, behaviour and wellbeing are formed.
Research shows the neural connections that support key aspects of thinking, communication and self-regulation are built in this period through everyday experiences such as secure relationships, play, investigation and intentional teaching.
About the updated VEYLDF
The updated VEYLDF reinforces Victoria’s commitment to giving children the best start in life.
Shaped by extensive consultation across the early years sector, the updated VEYLDF reflects the expertise and insights of educators, teachers, academics and professionals, responding to contemporary practice needs while remaining practical, relevant and grounded in the latest evidence across the early years.
The key changes in the updated VEYLDF include:
- Strengthened focus on child safety and wellbeing throughout for all early childhood professionals
- Integrated teaching and learning approaches. Previously a practice principle within the framework, integrated teaching and learning approaches now sit above the Practice Principles, alongside the Early Years Planning Cycle. The importance of intentional teaching is explained more clearly.
- Cultural knowledge stories. Additional cultural knowledge stories have been added throughout the framework.
- New examples to support translation of principles into every-day practice. The document has been redesigned to provide clear examples under each Practice Principle of what professionals will do, see and reflect on if they are aligning their practice to the VEYLDF
- Updated outcome descriptors. The outcome descriptors have been updated to align with the Early Years Learning Framework 2.0 and the Victorian Curriculum 2.0
Implementing the updated VEYLDF
A phased implementation approach will support all professionals to embed the updated framework over time.
We recognise that change may create concern, particularly where workloads are already high. That is why this approach should be implemented in ways that are clear, practical and supportive.
Its purpose is not to add to the demands on early years professionals, but to create more sustainable ways of working that distribute effort, strengthen teamwork and improve access by children, families and early years professionals to support.
To learn more about the updated VEYLDF, register for upcoming information sessions:
- For teachers, educators and service leaders working in or with a funded kindergarten service, via the Early Childhood Hub
- For all other service providers and professionals, please register via the VEYLDF Information Sessions form
Over the coming months, tailored implementation advice will be developed and communicated for different professionals and service settings, in recognition of their varied roles.
If you have an enquiry on the updated Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), you can contact the Department of Education’s early years team by emailing veyldf@education.vic.gov.au
Victorian Kindergarten Learning Progressions
The Victorian Kindergarten Learning Progressions complement the VEYLDF Outcomes to describe how children’s learning, during their kindergarten years, typically develops over time in the five outcomes of the VEYLDF (across eight key learning domains).
To help kindergarten teaching teams connect the Learning Progressions to the VEYLDF, a map shows how each of the eight learning domains connects to the VEYLDF outcomes.
A professional learning module on the Victorian Kindergarten Learning Progressions is available on the Early Childhood Hub.
Using the Early Years Learning and Assessment Tool is an additional practical way to implement the Learning Progressions.
More information
Background
- Launched in 2009, revised in 2016 and updated in 2026 the VEYLDF is a comprehensive framework to guide early childhood professionals in supporting the learning and development of Victorian children aged from birth to 8.
- The VEYLDF is an approved learning framework for Victorian early education and care services under the Education and Care Services National Law (sections 168 and 323). Providers of funded kindergarten programs are required to use the VEYLDF to develop and implement educational programs in Victorian Funded Kindergarten Programs.
Updated