The Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline 2024 supports Kindergarten Teachers’ professional practice in a range of contexts across Queensland. The guideline is based on the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF V2) and embraces the inclusive vision that “all children experience learning that is engaging and builds success for life."



The EYLF describes a vision of children’s learning, characterised by:

​

• belonging — Experiencing belonging – knowing where and with whom you belong – is integral to human existence. Children belong to diverse families, neighbourhoods, local and global communities. Belonging acknowledges children’s interdependence with others and the basis of relationships in defining identities. In early childhood, and throughout life, trusting relationships and affirming experiences are crucial to a sense of belonging. Belonging is central to being and becoming in that it shapes who children are and who they can become.

• being — Childhood is a time to be, to seek and make meaning of the world. Being recognises the significance of the present, as well as the past in children’s lives. It is about children knowing themselves, developing their identity, building and maintaining relationships with others, engaging with life’s joys and complexities, and meeting challenges in everyday life. The early childhood years are not solely preparation for the future but also about children being in the here and now.

• becoming — Children’s identities, knowledge, understandings, dispositions, capabilities, skills and relationships change during childhood. They are shaped by different events and circumstances. Becoming reflects this process of rapid and significant change that occurs in the early years as children learn and grow. It emphasises the collaboration of educators, families and children to support and enhance children’s connections and capabilities, and for children to actively participate as citizens (EYLF, V2,  2022, p6).

 

While the EYLF focuses on children from birth to five years, the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline (2024)  aims to specifically enrich children’s learning in the Kindergarten year. In Queensland, the Kindergarten year is the year before the Preparatory year of schooling. Throughout the Kindergarten year, children’s right to experience the joy of childhood is fundamental and learning is promoted through play, and emergent and planned learning experiences and interactions.



The guideline recognises that parents are children’s first educators and values the vital role parents, carers and family members play in children’s lives and their ongoing learning. The term “families”, throughout the guideline, recognises the range of people who take on parenting roles and build close and supportive relationships with children in their home environments.

 

​For information about the Education and Care Services National Regulations (QLD) please click here. 

A copy of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2021 can be downloaded here.

​