New AERO learning trajectories offer evidence-informed support for assessment and planning

A new collection of resources from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) is providing early childhood education and care professionals with a detailed framework for understanding how children's learning and development typically progress during the years before school.

The Early Childhood Learning Trajectories bring together research and sector consultation to map developmental progression across five interconnected domains: executive functions, social and emotional learning, mathematical thinking, language and communication, and physical development.

Designed to complement existing approved learning frameworks rather than replace them, the trajectories aim to support educators in making informed decisions about observation, assessment, planning and intentional teaching.

Supporting intentional teaching and assessment

Understanding how children develop knowledge, skills and capabilities over time remains a central challenge for educators seeking to design responsive learning programs.

The trajectories provide a research-informed lens through which educators can interpret children's learning and identify potential next steps in development.

Importantly, the resources are not intended to function as developmental checklists. Instead, they recognise that children's learning is complex, non-linear and influenced by a range of factors, with progress often occurring across multiple domains simultaneously.

For example, a learning experience focused on physical activity may also support executive functioning, language development and social-emotional learning, highlighting the interconnected nature of children's development.

Five domains of learning and development

The collection focuses on five key areas identified as foundational to children's learning and wellbeing:

• Executive functions – including working memory, attention, cognitive flexibility and self-regulation.

• Social and emotional learning – encompassing relationship-building, emotional understanding, cooperation and resilience.

• Mathematical thinking – including number sense, patterns, measurement and spatial reasoning.

• Language and communication – covering expressive and receptive language, conversation and meaning-making.

• Physical development – including gross and fine motor skills, coordination and movement.

Together, these domains provide a holistic picture of children's development and reinforce the importance of integrated approaches to curriculum planning.

Practical resources for educators and leaders

Alongside the learning trajectories themselves, AERO has released a suite of supporting materials designed to assist implementation within services.

The collection includes explanatory videos, a user guide, reflection activities and an evidence base paper outlining the research that informed the project.

These resources can be used as part of individual professional learning or to support service-wide discussions about curriculum, assessment and pedagogical practice.

For educational leaders, the trajectories may also provide a useful framework for professional conversations, mentoring and reflective practice, helping teams develop a shared understanding of how learning develops over time.

Aligning with existing frameworks

The trajectories align closely with the principles and practices outlined in the Early Years Learning Framework Version 2.0, particularly the emphasis on intentional teaching, assessment for learning and responsive curriculum decision-making.

They may also assist services in demonstrating elements of Quality Area 1 of the National Quality Standard by supporting assessment and planning processes that are informed by children's strengths, interests and developmental progress.

However, the resources are designed to be used flexibly and alongside educators' professional judgement, rather than as a prescriptive assessment tool.

Building evidence-informed practice

As the sector continues to focus on quality improvement and pedagogical excellence, AERO's learning trajectories offer another evidence-informed resource to support educators in understanding children's development and making purposeful curriculum decisions.

Rather than prescribing what children should learn at a particular age, the trajectories provide a framework for understanding how learning unfolds, helping educators identify opportunities to extend thinking, deepen engagement and support children's ongoing growth.

The full Early Childhood Learning Trajectories collection, including implementation resources and supporting research, is available through AERO.