Early Years Planning Cycle Resource for the Victorian ...

1 Early Years Planning Cycle Resource . FOR THE Victorian Early Years learning . AND DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK. Victorian CURRICULUM. AND ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY. Early Years Planning Cycle Resource For the Victorian Early Years learning and Development Framework Developed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority with Dr Caroline Cohrssen, assisted by Karri Hedge, Georgina Hill, Parian Madanipour and Lucy Stewart. Thank you to children and staff from Camberwell Baptist Church Kindergarten Incorporated (East Hawthorn), Davis Street Kindergarten (Kew), Pope Road Blackburn Kindergarten (Blackburn), Richmond Kindergarten (City of Yarra) and the Curriculum Division, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority for contributing their artwork. Authorised and published by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Level 7, 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.

2 ISBN: 978-1-74010-390-9. Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority 2020. No part of this publication may be reproduced except as specified under the Copyright Act 1968 or by permission from the VCAA. Excepting third-party elements, schools may use this Resource in accordance with the VCAA educational allowance. For more information go to: The VCAA provides the only official, up-to-date versions of VCAA publications. Details of updates can be found on the VCAA website: This publication may contain copyright material belonging to a third party. Every effort has been made to contact all copyright owners. If you believe that material in this publication is an infringement of your copyright, email the Copyright Officer: Copyright in materials appearing at any sites linked to this document rests with the copyright owner/s of those materials, subject to the Copyright Act.

3 The VCAA recommends you refer to copyright statements at linked sites before using such materials. The VCAA logo is a registered trademark of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Contents Introduction 1. Structure of the learning plans 2. Clear learning aims support assessment and Planning 3. Identity Children have a strong sense of identity 5. Community Children are connected with and contribute to their world 15. Wellbeing Children have a strong sense of wellbeing 25. Communication Children are effective communicators 35. learning Children are confident and involved learners 55. VEYLDF Sample Evidence Markers 86. Resources 120. Introduction This Resource has been designed to: This Resource consists of a range of sample learning plans demonstrate how the Victorian Early Years learning and focused on evidence of learning across the five VEYLDF.

4 Development Framework (VEYLDF) Early Years Planning learning and Development Outcomes. The Early Years Cycle can be applied to observe, assess and respond to Planning Cycle Resource illustrates how your knowledge evidence of children's learning of the trajectory of children's learning informs your decision-making: decisions about what is worth noting illustrate and provide a model for the teaching of and observing, and decisions about what you could plan specific concepts to children aged from birth to eight next for children. Years within everyday learning environments. The sample evidence markers reflect a selection of This Resource has a focus on learning and development concepts in different curriculum discipline areas for across each of the VEYLDF learning and Development most of the key components of learning in each of the Outcomes. VEYLDF learning and Development Outcomes.

5 These The Early Years Planning Cycle Resource is supported key components of learning are mapped against the by sample evidence markers that illustrate a continuum achievement standards in the first three levels of the of learning from the VEYLDF evidence markers to the first Victorian Curriculum F 10. It is important to remember three levels of the Victorian Curriculum F 10. that these are examples as you engage more with the VEYLDF key components of learning and the achievement It is important to note that learning plans and their sample standards in first three levels of the Victorian Curriculum evidence markers are examples of Planning and not F 10, you will build your understanding of the continuum comprehensive lists. of learning and development further and discover other illustrations of this in the documents. The learning plans are organised by the age ranges birth to two Years , three to five Years and six to eight Years to make navigation through the document easier.

6 This reflects the age ranges according to which most Early learning centres group learners and the fact that the VEYLDF addresses learning and development from birth through to eight Years of age. Early Years Planning Cycle Resource for the VEYLDF 1. Structure of the learning plans The learning plans in this Resource are written in everyday language and follow the structure of the Early Years Planning Cycle . Early Years Planning Cycle Collect information Initiation: The educator briefly records evidence of a child (or group of children) engaged in an activity that demonstrates child learning . Continuation: The educator briefly records evidence of a child (or group of children) engaged in the planned learning activity that further demonstrates child learning and the Cycle continues. Reflect and review With the learning aims in mind, Question and analyse the educator evaluates what the The educator analyses the observation child learnt and considers whether to clarify what the child knows already to repeat, refine or extend the and what the child may be ready to plan.

7 Alternatively, the educator learn next. The educator then links may choose to keep the learning this information to VEYLDF Outcome aims and apply them to other Evidence Markers or the first three playful activities. levels of the Victorian Curriculum F 10 Achievement standards . Context Plan Act and do The educator identifies learning aims that are linked to VEYLDF evidence The educator sets up markers or the first three levels of the and delivers the learning Victorian Curriculum F 10 Achievement activity, paying attention standards , and writes an outline of to the extent to which the what they will provide to consolidate of child engages with the aims extend the child's learning and progress of the learning plan. along their individual learning trajectory. This includes specific vocabulary the educator will model and scaffold as well as some open-ended questions that encourage the child (children) to explain or demonstrate their thinking.

8 2 Early Years Planning Cycle Resource for the VEYLDF. Clear learning aims support assessment and Planning The learning plans are a useful model for making This Resource supports educators' conversations with children's learning visible. In addition, when educators families and other professionals. This evidence can be develop learning aims that are based on evidence of child used in discussion with families and other professionals competency, it is possible to follow a child's interests while to extend children's learning in a range of settings, still addressing the planned learning aims. For example, including the home learning environment. This approach if a learning aim is to support a child's exploration of the strengthens the monitoring of child learning over time by measurement of length using informal units, the learning educators and families.

9 Aim can be achieved regardless of whether the child measures the length of a rug with building blocks or the length of the sandpit using spades. When educators have clear aims for planned learning activities, it becomes possible for the educator to assess whether, and to what extent, the learning aims are achieved either during the planned activity or later in the context of a different activity. This equips educators to feel confident about what constitutes evidence of learning . Educators working with children in prior-to-school settings should document this evidence of learning in order to meet the requirements of the National Quality Standard (in particular , and ). Developing confidence about the learning observed equips educators to make decisions about links to appropriate VEYLDF learning and Development Outcomes. Alternatively, the educator is equipped to make decisions about which achievement standard best relates to the first three levels of the Victorian Curriculum F 10.

10 Early Years Planning Cycle Resource for the VEYLDF 3. Identity Identity Children have a strong sense of identity 4 Early Years Planning Cycle Resource for the VEYLDF. birth 2 Years Identity Catching insects Collect information Elan is 30 months old. He is exploring the outdoor environment. He looks closely at a garden bed and begins to pick up pieces of tan bark. He notices an insect crawling around in the garden bed. He watches as the insect climbs up the nearby fence. When an educator walks past, Elan calls out and points to the insect he has been watching. Question and analyse Act and do Draw the learners' attention to the plants and garden VEYLDF Identity Evidence Marker beds. Encourage the learners to observe the natural Are open to new challenges and make new discoveries. environment, look closely at plants and garden beds, Initiate interactions and conversations with trusted and observe any living things (particularly insects) by educators.