Childcare Downloads – Templates, Checklists & Quick-Reference Sheets
Childcare professionals know that time is precious, and that high-quality documentation takes both skill and structure. The Child Care Guide Downloads Hub brings together editable templates, checklists, and reference sheets created specifically for Australian early childhood educators and students.
Each resource is aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF V2.0), the National Quality Framework (NQF), and the National Quality Standard (NQS) — helping you record, reflect and evidence learning with confidence.
Whether you’re preparing for an assessment visit, completing your diploma, or planning meaningful experiences for children, these resources will help you stay organised and professional while keeping the focus on children’s development and wellbeing.
Featured Childcare Downloads
Learning Story Template (EYLF-Linked)
Clean structure with prompts for observation, child voice, EYLF Outcome links, reflection, and next steps.
Anecdotal & Running Record Pack
Side-by-side formats for quick notes and time-sampled observations, plus when-to-use guide.
NQS Area 1: Program & Practice Checklist
Quick reference for planning cycle, documentation quality, and evidence ideas for A&R.
EYLF Outcomes Quick-Reference
One-pager mapping common learning moments to Outcomes 1–5 with sentence starters.
Assessment Response Planner (RTO-Friendly)
Structure for unpacking questions, linking frameworks, and adding authentic service examples.
Calm Corner Mini-Poster (Children & Families)
Visual steps for belly breaths and “name the feeling” prompts to support self-regulation.
How to Use These Resources
These childcare downloads are designed to be flexible — you can print them, adapt them for digital use, or integrate them into your existing planning systems.
- Make it yours: Replace examples with authentic observations, children’s voices, and details from your own service.
- Protect privacy: Always use initials or pseudonyms for children, and follow your service’s photography and record-keeping policies.
- Keep evidence authentic: Attach annotated plans, photos (where allowed), and reflections that demonstrate learning outcomes and educator intent.
- Maintain version control: Add a simple footer noting your service name, version number, and date of last update. This ensures consistency when teams share files.
The key is to see these as starting points — scaffolds that make it easier to demonstrate the reflective, intentional practice expected under the NQS.
Why use Templates and Checklists?
High-quality documentation doesn’t need to mean reinventing the wheel every week. Professionally-designed templates give educators a structure that supports both efficiency and reflective depth.
Templates and checklists help to:
- Ensure consistency across the team so all educators include the same essential elements in each record.
- Improve clarity with guiding prompts that encourage educators to write meaningful observations rather than rushed notes.
- Strengthen assessment evidence by clearly linking everyday practice to EYLF outcomes and Quality Areas.
- Save time so educators can focus on interacting with children and families rather than formatting documents.
By using a common structure, your team can build shared language and expectations about what “quality documentation” looks like, making induction and mentoring smoother for new staff.
What Childcare Downloads You’ll Find Here
The Child Care Guide resource library is continually growing. Each download is practical, framework-aligned, and tested with real educators in Australian services.
1. Documentation Templates
Structured formats for learning stories, jottings, anecdotal records, and running records. Each includes prompts for observation, child voice, educator reflection, and next steps.
2. Planning Tools
Weekly and fortnightly program templates, assessment response planners, and goal-setting frameworks that align to EYLF principles and outcomes.
3. Quality Practice Checklists
Quick-reference sheets for NQS Quality Areas, self-assessment forms, and improvement planning tools that help you prepare for Assessment and Rating.
4. Quick-Reference Posters and Guides
Visual reminders such as EYLF Outcomes summaries, calm corner posters, and family communication tips — ideal for staff areas or children’s learning spaces.
How to Customise and Share our Childcare Downloads
All documents are provided in editable formats (PDF or Word DOCX).
Educators can freely adapt them for use in their own service, provided attribution to Child Care Guide remains where possible.
Here’s how to make the most of them:
- Add your service logo and contact details to reinforce professionalism.
- Modify prompts to reflect your local philosophy or curriculum approach (e.g., Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Bush Kinder).
- Use colour coding or icons to match your Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) categories.
- Encourage collaboration — educators can review each other’s templates to share practice ideas and ensure consistent interpretation of EYLF outcomes.
These small steps transform generic templates into powerful, authentic records of your unique learning community.
Version Control and Updates
Child Care Guide regularly reviews all downloadable resources to ensure alignment with current frameworks and regulatory guidance.
When EYLF V2.0 or NQS updates occur, new versions will replace older ones here — so you can always access the most accurate tools.
If your service customises these resources, consider adding a simple footer such as:
Adapted from Child Care Guide Template – Updated October 2025, Version 1.2
This practice supports transparency during assessment visits and demonstrates professional responsibility.
Supporting Continuous Improvement
Using these templates isn’t just about documentation — it’s part of a broader cycle of reflection and growth.
When educators reflect together using shared tools, they strengthen their ability to identify children’s learning patterns, plan intentional teaching, and link daily experiences to outcomes.
The more consistently documentation is maintained, the more meaningful your discussions with families, assessors, and colleagues become.
Stay Connected
Our free templates are just the beginning. By joining the Child Care Guide Educator Community, you’ll gain early access to:
- New EYLF-linked templates released each term
- Printable goal-setting sheets and professional reflection tools
- Monthly educator tips for planning, documentation, and wellbeing
Sign up today to receive updates straight to your inbox and keep your professional toolkit up to date.
Attribution and Permissions
These resources are created and published by Child Care Guide Australia for use in Australian early childhood education and care contexts.
They may be shared, adapted, and reproduced for internal educational purposes with acknowledgment.
Commercial redistribution or online hosting without permission is not permitted.