Practice principles for teaching birth to eight years

​Eight practice principles for early childhood professionals working with children from birth to eight years and their families.

The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) practice principles provide a foundation for you to improve your teaching practice. Under each principle listed below, you will find a:

• practice guide
• evidence paper
• video examples

These will help you implement the VEYLDF framework in your everyday practice.

These resources encourage critical reflection, discussion, debate and action. Download the critical reflection tool to read as you watch the videos to accompany your thinking.

The Practice Principles are based on the latest international evidence about the best ways to support children's learning.

Reflective practice - principle 1

Practice guide

• Practice Guide: Reflective practice
• Practice Guide: Reflective practice

Evidence paper

• Evidence paper: Reflective practice
• Evidence paper: Reflective practice

Transcript: Reflective practice (docx - 33.26kb)

Partnerships with families - principle 2

Practice guide

• Practice Guide: partnerships with families
• Practice Guide: partnerships with families

Evidence paper

• Evidence paper: partnerships with families
• Evidence paper: partnerships with families

Transcript: partnerships with families

High expectations for every child - principle 3

Practice guide

• Practice Guide: high expectations for every child
• Practice Guide: high expectations for every child

Evidence paper

• Evidence paper: high expectations for every child
• Evidence paper: high expectations for every child

Transcript: high expectations for every child

Respectful relationships and responsive engagement - principle 4

Practice guide

• Practice Guide: respectful relationships and responsive engagement
• Practice Guide: respectful relationships and responsive engagement

Evidence paper

• Evidence paper: respectful relationships and responsive engagement
• Evidence paper: respectful relationships and responsive engagement

Transcript: respectful relationships and responsive engagement

Equity and diversity - principle 5

Practice guide

• Practice Guide: equity and diversity
• Practice Guide: equity and diversity

Evidence paper

• Evidence paper: equity and diversity (pdf - 348.51kb)
• Evidence paper: equity and diversity

Transcript: equity and diversity

Assessment for learning and development - principle 6

Practice guide

• Practice Guide: assessment for learning and development
• Practice Guide: assessment for learning and development

Evidence paper

• Evidence paper: assessment for learning and development
• Evidence paper: assessment for learning and development

Transcript: assessment for learning and development

Integrated teaching and learning approaches - principle 7

Practice guide

• Practice Guide: integrated teaching and learning approaches
• Practice Guide: integrated teaching and learning approaches

Evidence paper

• Evidence paper: integrated teaching and learning approaches
• Evidence paper: integrated teaching and learning approaches

Transcript: integrated teaching and learning approaches

Partnerships with professionals - principle 8

Practice guide

• Practice Guide: partnerships with professionals
• Practice Guide: partnerships with professionals

Evidence paper

• Evidence paper: partnerships with professionals
• Evidence paper: partnerships with professionals

Transcript: partnerships with professionals

Transcript: partnerships with professionals part two (docx - 26.56kb)

About the principles

Transcript: The ecological model of child learning and development

More reading

The Early Years Exchange is is an online resource developed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). It is designed to you to implement and embed the VEYLDF in your practice.

Connecting the VEYLDF with the practice principles for excellence in teaching and learning (schools)

Teachers working in the early years of primary school will also refer to the Practice Principles for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, bringing coherence to our education system and ensuring continuity of learning across education settings and developmental stages.

To find out more, see: Practice Principles for Excellence in Teaching and Learning