Play based learning is the philosophy behind the Early Learning Years Framework (ELYF) supported by the principles and rights of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of a Child. The ELYF document, describes the principles, practices and learning outcomes that are crucial to enhance a child’s learning from birth to 5 years of age.

The ECE forum held in August at the SSTUWA provided early childhood educators with the opportunity to seek support and network with a group of likeminded teachers.  Heather Kerr, a pre-primary teacher at Mount Hawthorn Primary School and Dr Rosemary Cahill DoE Manager Early Childhood Development and Learning, provided insight into the ELYF and how to best apply these in the classroom.  The afternoon also included a Q&A panel and  a collaborative round table data collecting activity.

“The EYLF supports the use of reflective practice which teachers should be engaging in as current professional practice. The workload required is really in the reading and becoming familiar with the document. It is an easy read, very teacher friendly and can be ‘dipped’ into,” says Heather.

“If all EC teachers embraced the principles, practices and learning outcomes with the support of the schools admin, then a significant observable improvement should be noticed quickly as anecdotal evidence and with time, as solid data based evidence.”

DoE mapping documents enable educators to see the link between the how in the ELYF with the what of the Australian Curriculum. Heather recommends that educators familiarise themselves with these documents.

“The challenge and I believe the joy of teaching, is to incorporate the more formal curriculum content whilst honouring my pedagogy, within a play based environment that incorporates intentional teaching,” she said.

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