What’s changed, why it’s changed, and how it supports stronger programming
We’ve had lots of thoughtful questions about the updated layout in the Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary, particularly around:
“What goes where now?”
“Is this different from how I used to plan?”
To support this, we created comparison visuals showing how the previous layout links directly with the new layout — and the key message is this:
- You are still documenting the same way.
- The thinking behind your programming hasn’t changed.
- What has changed is how the learning is made visible.
This update is about making professional judgement clearer and aligning more naturally with how learning actually happens.
First — What Hasn’t Changed
Before we look at the differences, it’s important to settle a common worry.
You are not expected to plan differently.
The same types of experiences still exist:
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Stories and songs
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Art and creative experiences
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Sensory and role play
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Group experiences
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Outdoor learning
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Child-led learning
The diary is still designed to capture:
✔ intentional teaching
✔ child-led learning
✔ spontaneous moments
✔ wellbeing
✔ environmental learning
✔ social and cultural learning
What’s shifted is how flexible the recording structure now is.
So, What Has Changed?
1) Boxes are now broader and more open-ended
In the previous layout, some sections felt tied to types of experiences (e.g., stories, craft, songs, role play).
The new layout focuses more on:
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Learning context
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Learning intention
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Holistic development
This reflects how learning actually occurs in Early Childhood Education and Care — not in isolated categories, but across multiple areas at once.
For example:
- Reading a book, could now be recorded under Group Learning, Cognitive/Language, Cultural, Outdoor Experiences
- Cooking, could now be recorded under Creative, Cognitive, Cultural, Wellbeing
- Role play, could now be recorded under Wellbeing, Social Learning, Cultural, Environment
- Gardening, could now be recorded under Outdoor Experiences, Environment/Cultural, Wellbeing
2) The layout better reflects the EYLF approach
The Early Years Learning Framework emphasises:
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Holistic learning
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Intentional teaching
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Responsive practice
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Child agency
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Learning across contexts
The new diary structure supports this by:
✔ Allowing experiences to sit in multiple areas based on learning intention rather than a forced structure
✔ Encouraging educators to think about why they are offering the experience
✔ Making the learning intention more visible than the activity itself
✔ Showing that one experience can support multiple learning outcomes
This mirrors the EYLF’s view that children’s learning is:
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interconnected
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relational
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shaped by environment, relationships and context
3) Greater visibility of holistic programming
The updated layout encourages educators to show that learning happens across:
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Group settings
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Individual exploration
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Outdoor environments
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Social and cultural contexts
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Wellbeing experiences
Rather than appearing as separate “subjects,” learning is now visible as a woven program — just as assessors expect to see under:
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Intentional teaching
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Responsive planning
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Integrated learning
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A balanced curriculum
A Key Mindset Shift
The most important change is not structural — it’s conceptual:
There is no “right box” for an experience.
The correct place to record an experience depends on:
- your learning intention
- how children are engaging
- what learning you are supporting
A story read outdoors about caring for Country may sit under:
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Environment/Cultural
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Outdoor Experiences
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Group Learning
All are valid. The difference is your focus.
- Choose Environment/Cultural if your focus is the story itself about caring for Country.
- Choose Outdoor Experiences if your focus is being outdoors or connecting with Country.
- Choose Group Learning if your focus is connecting together as a group.
You may have all of these as learning intentions and therefore you can pick whichever box best fits your plans or your first and foremost learning intention.
Why This Matters for Assessment and Rating
Assessors are not looking for:
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perfectly sorted activities
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every box filled
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equal entries in every section
They are looking for evidence of:
✔ thoughtful planning
✔ intentional decision-making
✔ responsive programming
✔ a balanced, meaningful curriculum
The new layout supports educators to show:
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professional judgement
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holistic practice
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integrated learning
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real understanding of children’s development
Important Reminders
Keep these principles in mind:
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There is no right or wrong box
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Experiences can belong in multiple places
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Not every box needs to be completed every week
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A simple experience name is enough - you don't need to write detailed explanations
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The focus is on intention, not paperwork
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Keep it simple
This layout is designed to reduce second-guessing — not increase it.
How the Old Layout Connects to the New
The comparison visuals show:
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Old: Stories/Songs
- New: Group Learning / Language / Cultural / Outdoor (depending on context)
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Old: Art/Craft/Cooking
- New: Creative / Group Learning / Wellbeing / Cultural
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Old: Role Play/Sensory
- New: Wellbeing / Social Learning / Environment
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Old: Group Learning
- New: Still present — now more integrated across program
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Old: Children's Choices
- New: Still present — but children’s agency can appear anywhere
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Old: Outdoor Experiences
- New: Still present — and linked more strongly to holistic learning
The experiences are the same.
The visibility of learning is stronger.
Final Thought
This update supports educators to move from:
“Where does this activity go?”
to
“What learning am I supporting here?”
That shift aligns beautifully with the EYLF and reflects real professional practice in Early Childhood Education and Care and makes the Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary an even stronger tool.
