Free EYLF Planning Templates for 2026: Download and Use
Essential Planning Templates for 2026
Good templates save you hours of work each week. Here are the essential EYLF-aligned planning templates every early childhood educator needs for 2026.
1. Weekly Program Template
Your weekly program should include basic information such as week number, dates, age group, and educators. A daily schedule overview covers arrival, group times, planned experiences, meals, rest, and outdoor play. For each planned experience, document the activity name, materials, EYLF outcomes, educator role, and extension ideas. Include a reflection section noting what worked, what to change, and follow-up plans.
How to Use It
Fill in your planned experiences at the start of the week. Update daily based on children's responses. Complete the reflection section at the end of the week.
2. Observation Record Template
Effective observations include the child's name and date, the context and setting, what the child did and said, the EYLF outcome connections, and next steps for planning.
Quick Observation Format
For busy days, use this simplified format: write the child's name, the date, a brief description of what happened, note the EYLF outcome, and identify one follow-up action.
3. EYLF Outcome Tracker
Track which outcomes you are covering across your program. Create a simple grid with the five EYLF outcomes on one axis and days of the week on the other. Mark which outcomes each activity addresses.
Weekly Tracking Table
| Day | Outcome 1 | Outcome 2 | Outcome 3 | Outcome 4 | Outcome 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Identity art | Garden care | Yoga | Science | Story time |
| Tue | Family board | Recycling | Cooking | Construction | Music |
| Wed | Self-portrait | Community walk | Outdoor play | Maths game | Puppet show |
| Thu | Cultural day | Group project | Dance | Experiment | Writing |
| Fri | Goal setting | Kindness chain | Sport | Nature study | Drama |
4. Individual Learning Plan Template
For each child, maintain a record that includes the child's interests and strengths, current developmental focus areas, EYLF outcomes being addressed, planned strategies and activities, progress notes, and family input and feedback.
5. Daily Reflection Journal
A simple end-of-day reflection helps improve your practice. Note highlights and memorable moments, challenges and how you handled them, individual children's progress, ideas for tomorrow, and any concerns to follow up.
Tips for Using Templates Effectively
Customise for Your Setting
Templates are starting points. Adapt them to suit your centre's philosophy, your age group, and your team's preferences.
Keep It Simple
The best template is one you will actually use. If it is too complicated, simplify it.
Go Digital
Digital templates can be filled in on a tablet, shared with colleagues, and stored securely. Consider using tools that automate parts of the process.
Review Regularly
At the start of each term, review your templates. Are they working? Do they need updating?
Beyond Templates: AI-Powered Planning
While templates provide structure, modern planning tools can do much more. ECT Planner generates complete, EYLF-aligned weekly programs based on your children's interests. It handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on teaching.
What ECT Planner Does
- Generates age-appropriate activities based on your observations
- Automatically tracks EYLF outcome coverage
- Creates professional Word document exports
- Saves and manages all your plans digitally
Try It Free
ECT Planner offers 30 free credits per month — enough to create several complete weekly programs.
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Create EYLF-aligned curriculum plans in minutes with ECT Planner.
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