Understanding the EYLF: What Families Need to Know

Greenwich Little Learning Hub
3 days ago
3 min read

When you walk into an early learning service, you probably notice the smiles, the artwork, the blocks and books, and the hum of busy play.

Behind all of that is a national framework that guides what children learn and how educators support them every day: the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).

This post explains, in plain language, what the EYLF is and what it means for your child at our centre.

What is the EYLF?

EYLF Learning Outcomes – What “Learning” Really Means

Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity

Children are developing ideas like:

“Who am I?”
“Where do I belong?”
“What makes me special?”

We support this by:

Using children’s names and pronouns respectfully
Including photos, artwork and stories from children and their families
Encouraging them to make choices and express their preferences

When your child proudly shows you a painting and says, “I did this!”, that’s identity learning in action.

Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world

This outcome is about relationships and community. Children learn:

How to be a friend
How to share and take turns
How to care for others, animals and the environment
That they are part of a family, a group and a wider community

You might see this when children:

Help to water the garden
Look after a shared pet or plant
Participate in cultural celebrations
Talk about fairness and kindness

They are learning that they belong and that they can make a difference.

Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

Wellbeing includes both physical and emotional health.

We support wellbeing by:

Encouraging healthy eating and active play
Providing time for rest and quiet activities
Helping children name and manage big feelings
Teaching safety skills in age-appropriate ways

A child learning to say, “I feel sad, I miss Mum,” and finding comfort with an educator is just as important as learning how to climb safely on the playground. Both are part of their wellbeing.

Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners

Children are natural problem-solvers. They tinker, test, repeat and try again.

We nurture this by offering:

Open-ended resources (blocks, loose parts, sand, water, art materials)
Time for deep, uninterrupted play
Questions that spark thinking, like “What do you think will happen if…?”

You might notice your child building the same tower again and again, trying new strategies. That’s not “just playing” — that’s them, in our Purple &Pink Rooms, developing persistence, concentration and problem-solving skills.

Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators

Communication is much more than spoken words. It includes gestures, facial expressions, drawing, singing, dancing, storytelling and the use of home languages.

We support communication by:

Talking with, not just to, children
Reading and telling stories every day
Encouraging children to share their ideas, questions and theories
Valuing children’s home languages and cultural ways of communicating

When children act out a story in pretend play, draw their weekend, or sing a song from home, they are practising rich communication skills that support later literacy and learning.

How You Might See the EYLF in Action

For families, the EYLF might show up as:

Learning stories or journals that link your child’s experiences to the outcomes
Program plans that highlight children’s interests and learning goals
Conversations with educators about your child’s strengths, friendships, emotions and ideas
Environments that reflect children’s cultures, voices and choices

If something in the program notes looks “small”, like “Tom spent time filling and emptying containers”, remember: educators are watching the thinking, persistence, coordination and curiosity behind those moments.

What This Means for Your Child

When we say your child is “learning”, we mean:

They are building a strong identity and sense of self
They are developing wellbeing — feeling safe, healthy and emotionally supported
They are learning to communicate in many different ways
They are connecting with their world, forming relationships and understanding their place in it

All of this happens through play, exploration and relationships, guided by the EYLF.

Want to Know More?

If you’re curious about how the EYLF applies specifically to your child, please speak with your child’s educators or Centre Manager. We’re always happy to walk you through your child’s learning journey and show how everyday moments link to these bigger outcomes.

After all, the most powerful learning in the early years doesn’t always look like a worksheet — it looks like play, connection and joy.