1. Play based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework
withLennieBarblett

2. Introduction
Early Childhood Australia (ECA) acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the original inhabitants of Australia and recognises their culture as part of the cultural heritage of all Australians.
I respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land.
I acknowledge the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the society we have today where we all strive to provide the best education for all of our children.

3. Introduction
The Early Years Learning Framework is part of the Council of Australian Government’s reform agenda for early childhood education and care, and is a key component of the Australian Government’s National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care. 

4. EYLF National Vision Childhood is about:
Belonging (being connected to family, culture, community, place)
Being (to be, to seek, and make meaning of the world)
Becoming (shaping new understandings, identities, capacities and relationships).

5. Structure of the EYLF

6. Play based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework
What is play?
Generally there are a number of agreed upon characteristics:
voluntary
pleasurable
symbolic
active
process oriented
intrinsically motivated.
Play is a fundamental right of all children. (UNROC, 1989)

7. Why? Play-based learning
Play based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework
Why? Play-based learning
Why is it important that we pay attention to children’s play?
What do children learn through play?

8. Play based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework
EYLF and play
EYLF defines this as:
‘a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations.’ (EYLF, 2009,p46)
BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT ANYTHING GOES
Research tells us that educators need to be knowledgeable, active and articulate about play.

9. Play based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework
Play, EYLF and 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.

10. Role of the early childhood educator in play:
Play based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework
Role of the early childhood educator in play:
Intentionality—knowing how to value-add.
Quality adult-child interactions (shared sustained thinking).
Different roles of the adult in children’s play .
* Participant * Parallel player * Script writer
* Stage manager * Play Assistant
Teaching to support play.
Challenging unfair or unjust play.

11. The role of the environment in play-based learning:
Play based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework
The role of the environment in play-based learning:
planning with children and families
Being, Belonging and Becoming reflected in the environment
aesthetics
empowerment and agency
communicability of spaces
provocations
temporal environment
thinking about safety and risk.

12. References Play based learning and the Early Years Learning Framework
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). (2009). Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. Canberra, DEEWR.
Dockett, S. & Fleer, M. (1999). Play and pedagogy in early childhood: Bending the rules. Marrackville, NSW: Harcourt Brace.
Frost, J.L., Reifel, R.S. And Wortham, S.C. (2006) Play and child development. (Third edn). USA: Prentice Hall.
Sylva, K., Melhuish, E., Sammons, P., Siraj-Blatchford, I. and Taggart, B. (2004). The effective provision of pre-school education (EPPE) project: Findings from preschool to end of Key Stage 1. United Kingdom: Sure Start. Available at: or
Sylva, K., Melhuish, E., Sammons, P., Siraj-Feeney, S., Moravick, E., Nolte, S. and Christensen, D. (2010). Who am I in the lives of children? An introduction to early childhood education (Seventh edn). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
United Nations (1989). The convention on the rights of the child. New York: UNICEF.
Van Hoorn, J.L. (2007) Play at the centre of the curriculum (Fourth edn). USA: Pearson Merrill