Child Care Guide Childcare Glossary
Key Childcare Terms and Framework Language
Understanding early childhood terminology helps educators, students, and families communicate clearly about learning, development, and regulation.
This glossary explains common terms used in Australian early childhood education and care (ECEC), drawing from the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), National Quality Framework (NQF), and National Quality Standard (NQS).
It’s designed as a quick-reference guide — ideal for students completing assessments, educators updating their Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs), or families learning more about how services operate.