Practice principles for teaching birth to 8 years
Eight practice principles for early childhood professionals.
On this page
- Reflective practice - principle 1
- Partnerships with families - principle 2
- High expectations for every child - principle 3
- Respectful relationships and responsive engagement - principle 4
- Equity and diversity - principle 5
- Assessment for learning and development - principle 6
- Integrated teaching and learning approaches - principle 7
- Partnerships with professionals - principle 8
- About the principles
- Connecting the VEYLDF with the practice principles for excellence in teaching and learning (schools)
The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) helps you improve your practice. Under each principle listed below, you will find a:
- practice guide
- evidence paper
- video examples.
These will help you use the VEYLDF framework in your everyday practice.
These resources encourage critical reflection, discussion, debate and action. Download the document below to read as you watch the videos to inform your thinking.
Partnership reflection tool (PDF, 98KB)
The Practice Principles use the latest international evidence to support children’s learning.
Reflective practice - principle 1
Practice guide
- Practice Guide: Reflective practice (PDF, 491KB)(opens in a new window)
- Practice Guide: Reflective practice (DOCX, 652KB)
Evidence paper
- Evidence paper: Reflective practice (PDF, 378KB)(opens in a new window)
- Evidence paper: Reflective practice (DOCX, 379KB)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/OJXvTW0C-iA?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
Partnerships with families - principle 2
Practice guide
- Practice Guide: partnerships with families (PDF, 1MB)(opens in a new window)
- Practice Guide: partnerships with families (DOCX, 865KB)
Evidence paper
- Evidence paper: partnerships with families (PDF, 460KB)(opens in a new window)
- Evidence paper: partnerships with families (DOCX, 389KB)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/NUxWa3V-U8k?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
High expectations for every child - principle 3
Practice guide
- Practice Guide: high expectations for every child (PDF, 430KB)(opens in a new window)
- Practice Guide: high expectations for every child (DOCX, 560KB)
Evidence paper
- Evidence paper: high expectations for every child (PDF, 1MB)(opens in a new window)
- Evidence paper: high expectations for every child (DOCX, 455KB)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Myl78JxpZqs?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
High expectations for every child
Respectful relationships and responsive engagement - principle 4
Practice guide
- Practice Guide: respectful relationships and responsive engagement (PDF, 417KB)(opens in a new window)
- Practice Guide: respectful relationships and responsive engagement (DOCX, 568KB)
Evidence paper
- Evidence paper: respectful relationships and responsive engagement (PDF, 1MB)(opens in a new window)
- Evidence paper: respectful relationships and responsive engagement (DOCX, 398KB)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/HBu9SaOywjY?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
Equity and diversity - principle 5
Practice guide
- Practice Guide: equity and diversity (PDF, 442KB)(opens in a new window)
- Practice Guide: equity and diversity (DOCX, 564KB)
Evidence paper
- Evidence paper: equity and diversity (PDF, 349KB)
- Evidence paper: equity and diversity (DOCX, 457KB)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/GxKBKEvGseg?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
Assessment for learning and development - principle 6
Practice guide
- Practice Guide: assessment for learning and development (PDF, 2MB)(opens in a new window)
- Practice Guide: assessment for learning and development (DOCX, 704KB)
Evidence paper
- Evidence paper: assessment for learning and development (PDF, 1MB)(opens in a new window)
- Evidence paper: assessment for learning and development (DOCX, 368KB)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/WgDMEJfZnaQ?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
Assessment for learning and development
Integrated teaching and learning approaches - principle 7
Practice guide
- Practice Guide: integrated teaching and learning approaches (PDF, 430KB)(opens in a new window)
- Practice Guide: integrated teaching and learning approaches (DOCX, 661KB)
Evidence paper
- Evidence paper: integrated teaching and learning approaches (PDF, 808KB)(opens in a new window)
- Evidence paper: integrated teaching and learning approaches (DOCX, 670KB)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/__MSg1X3TVE?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
Integrated teaching and learning
Partnerships with professionals - principle 8
Practice guide
- Practice Guide: partnerships with professionals (PDF, 1MB)(opens in a new window)
- Practice Guide: partnerships with professionals (DOCX, 523KB)
Evidence paper
- Evidence paper: partnerships with professionals (PDF, 1MB)(opens in a new window)
- Evidence paper: partnerships with professional (DOCX, 458KB)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vj3TuZMrw4g?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
Partnerships with professionals
https://www.youtube.com/embed/K4BOPZpleuQ?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
Partnerships with professionals two
About the principles
https://www.youtube.com/embed/n7VMo51xRTA?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0
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.
Early childhood education and care
Updated 27 March 2026
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