Early Learning Centres should follow the standards laid out by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). This is documentation that covers the educational, social, emotional and physical development of children in early years care prior to starting formal education

What is the Early Years Learning Framework?
The framework is designed to ‘maximise (the) learning potential (of young children) and to establish the fundamental basis for future success in learning.’ The ‘theme’ of the framework is ‘Belonging, Being and Becoming’ and seeks to provide a scaffold through which children can begin to discover their own identities and make sense of their place in the world.
The National Quality Standard houses the EYLF and it aims to promote:
The safety, health and wellbeing of all children
A strong focus on the achievement of positive outcomes via high-quality educational programs
A national standard for what makes a ‘quality service’ that can be understood by both providers and families
Both of these legislative curriculum frameworks combine to assist children to transition from birth to school through engagement in an innovative, dynamic curriculum that maximises their learning potential.
Does play-based learning fit in?
Many centres claim that they embrace play-based learning in their childcare programs but not all centres are created equal. While the ELYF and the NQS express the need for play-based learning in early childhood development, it is not a concept that is as widely embraced by all centres as it should be.
Little Scholars ensures that children are exposed to play-based learning as well as a curriculum and extra-curriculum program that allow all learners to become excited and engaged by pedagogical activities.
Elements of the Early Years Learning Framework
The most important thing to remember with this educational framework is that the well-being, safety and education of the child is paramount at all times.
There are three fundamental elements that support this approach to early years development in your early learning centre.
Principles
Relationships are secure, respectful and reciprocal
Partnerships are healthy and important
There are high expectations and equal treatment
There is respect for diversity
There is ongoing professional learning for educators who engage in reflective practice
Practice
There are holistic (whole child and learner) approaches to learning and teaching
There is a responsiveness to the needs of children
There is a focus on learning through play
There are intentional teaching times and activities
There are innovative, dynamic learning environments
There is cultural competence
There is continuity of learning and transitions between classrooms and year levels
There is some assessed learning (formative) that is reported to parents
Learning outcomes
Children have a strong sense of identity
Children are connected with and contribute to their world
Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Children are confident and involved learners
Children are effective communicators
Little Scholars and the Early Years Learning Framework
Little Scholars puts the EYLF at the forefront when it comes to curriculum and pedagogical development. The intense focus on the needs and development of the child, and the creation of an environment where every learner is encouraged to succeed, means that unique, child-specific learning spaces have been created for each and every child.
Little Scholars and academic potential
A curriculum that embraces nature, technology, literacy and numeracy means that children who are fortunate enough to attend Little Scholars will transition to prep with comparative ease when examined alongside the rest of their cohort.
Little Scholars and extra-curricular learning
The exciting extra-curricular program at Little Scholars includes sport, Japanese lessons and cooking classes. This allows children to not only transfer their learning to different contexts but to connect with different skills and cognitive processes to tap into completely new ways of thinking. Specialised teachers provide the opportunity for Little Scholars Early Learning Centre children to find early role models who are positive, educational influences on their young minds. These specialist teachers are highly trained and skilled in their subject areas; confidently and competently laying the building blocks for the children to create strong educational foundations