High-quality early education and care is more than preparation for school—it’s the foundation for a child’s lifelong well-being, confidence, and achievement. During Early Learning Matters Week, educators, families, and communities come together to celebrate the transformative impact of play-based learning in shaping enthusiastic, capable learners.

Open-ended play activities are all about freedom, exploration, and creativity—especially powerful in early childhood settings where babies and toddlers are discovering the world through their senses and movement. Here’s a rich collection of examples tailored for babies (0–18 months), with variations to suit different developmental stages and settings.

In early childhood education, the decision to defer a child’s school entry by a year is often framed as “staying back.” But educators across Australia are challenging this language, advocating instead for a strengths-based perspective: sending children when they are developmentally ready.

Thanks to the new National Model Code and upcoming regulatory changes under the National Quality Framework (NQF), early childhood services across Australia must now implement robust policies for the taking, use, storage, and destruction of images and videos of children. Here's a sample policy template aligned with the latest updates, effective from 1 September 2025.

A: Employers must give at least 7 days’ notice for changes to rosters, including meeting times. If the meeting is compulsory, it must be paid. 

In many early childhood settings, art activities have unintentionally become routine tasks—structured, time-bound, and educator-led. Children are often called one by one to complete pre-set crafts, given step-by-step instructions, and quickly ushered away. This approach can lead to disengagement, low interest, and a missed opportunity to nurture creativity and emotional development.

Here’s a comprehensive Mobile Phone and Smart Watch Policy tailored for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Australia, aligned with the latest 2025 legislative reforms and National Quality Framework (NQF) updates.

As services prepare for upcoming assessment and rating, educators and leaders often seek clarity on what assessors typically observe, review, and discuss during visits. This article outlines common areas of focus, documentation requirements, and practical considerations to support services in demonstrating quality practice and compliance.

Early childhood education thrives on diversity. Multicultural teams bring rich perspectives, lived experiences, and linguistic variety that enhance learning environments for children and educators alike.

In this article, we explore how services can support respectful language use, address feelings of exclusion, and uphold the principles of the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Standard (NQS)—without compromising identity or connection.

Creating a purposeful outdoor space means more than scattering toys—it’s about crafting an environment that actively supports children’s growth. By weaving the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standard (NQS) into your outdoor design, you ensure every element invites meaningful exploration, skill-building, and well-being.